Neat Science in a Messy World: The Global Impact of Human Behavior on Phage Therapy, Past and Present

History of Early Bacteriophage Research and Emergence of Key Concepts in Virology

The viruses of bacteria - bacteriophages - were discovered 20 years after the discovery of viruses. However, this was mainly the bacteriophage research that, after the first 40 years, yielded the modern concept of the virus and to large extent formed the grounds of the emerging molecular genetics and molecular biology. Many specific aspects of the bacteriophage research history have been addressed in the existing publications. The integral outline of the events that led to the formation of the key concepts of modern virology is presented in this review. This includes the opposition of F. d'Herelle and J. Bordet viewpoints over the nature of the bacteriophage, the history of lysogeny discovery and of determination of the mechanisms of underlying this phenomenon, the work of the Phage group led by M. Delbruck in USA, the development of the genetic analysis of bacteriophages and other research that eventually led to emergence of the concept of the virus (bacteriophage) as a transmissive genetic program. The review also covers a brief history of early applications of the bacteriophages such as phage therapy and phage typing.

Transcriptional Landscape of Staphylococcus aureus Kayvirus Bacteriophage vB_SauM-515A1

The Twort-like myoviruses (Kayvirus genus) of S. aureus are promising agents for bacteriophage therapy due to a broad host range and high killing activity against clinical isolates. This work improves the current understanding of the phage infection physiology by transcriptome analysis. The expression profiles of a typical member of the Kayvirus genus (vB_SauM-515A1) were obtained at three time-points post-infection using RNA sequencing. A total of 35 transcription units comprising 238 ORFs were established. The sequences for 58 early and 12 late promoters were identified in the phage genome. The early promoters represent the strong sigma-70 promoters consensus sequence and control the host-dependent expression of 26 transcription units (81% of genes). The late promoters exclusively controlled the expression of four transcription units, while the transcription of the other five units was directed by both types of promoters. The characteristic features of late promoters were long -10 box of TGTTATATTA consensus sequence and the absence of -35 boxes. The data obtained are also of general interest, demonstrating a strategy of the phage genome expression with a broad overlap of the early and late transcription phases without any middle transcription, which is unusual for the large phage genomes (>100 kbp).

Vets' and Pet Owners' Views About Antibiotics for Companion Animals and the Use of Phages as an Alternative

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health burden. Although a complex and multi-faceted problem, inappropriate antibiotic use has repeatedly been identified as one of the main drivers of the acceleration and spread of AMR. Behaviors associated with antibiotic prescription and use have been extensively investigated in human medicine and in the livestock sector of veterinary medicine. There is now a growing interest in the factors that drive inappropriate antibiotic use in companion animal medicine, as the significance of antimicrobial use in this sector is being recognized. Additionally, the possibility of an alternative antimicrobial, phage therapy, being implemented into companion animal medicine is explored in this study. Interviews revealed complexities in the vet-owner relationship including conflicting perceptions of responsibility regarding antibiotic prescription and use, distrust of vets' intentions, and misconception of clients' needs. A need for alternative antimicrobials was evident, as all vets were able to report difficulties finding antibiotics to treat infections as a common occurrence. Questionnaire results indicated that vets and pet owners are open to the use of phage therapy in companion animals. This study shows that an alternative antimicrobial such as phage therapy could be accepted into companion animal medicine in the UK; however, effective communication between vets and pet owners is vital if antibiotic use is to be reduced and new antimicrobials are successfully implemented.