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Qin K, Shi X, Yang K, Xu Q, Wang F, Chen S, Xu T, Liu J, Wen W, Chen R, Liu Z, Cui L, Zhou K. Phage-antibiotic synergy suppresses resistance emergence of Klebsiella pneumoniae by altering the evolutionary fitness. mBio 2024:e0139324. [PMID: 39248568 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01393-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 08/13/2024] [Indexed: 09/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Phage-antibiotic synergy (PAS) represents a superior treatment strategy for pathogen infections with less probability of resistance development. Here, we aim to understand the molecular mechanism by which PAS suppresses resistance in terms of population evolution. A novel hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP) phage H5 was genetically and structurally characterized. The combination of H5 and ceftazidime (CAZ) showed a robust synergistic effect in suppressing resistance emergence. Single-cell Raman analysis showed that the phage-CAZ combination suppressed bacterial metabolic activities, contrasting with the upregulation observed with phage alone. The altered population evolutionary trajectory was found to be responsible for the contrasting metabolic activities under different selective pressures, resulting in pleiotropic effects. A pre-existing wcaJ point mutation (wcaJG949A) was exclusively selected by H5, conferring a fitness advantage and up-regulated activity of carbohydrate metabolism, but also causing a trade-off between phage resistance and collateral sensitivity to CAZ. The wcaJ point mutation was counter-selected by H5-CAZ, inducing various mutations in galU that imposed evolutionary disadvantages with higher fitness costs, and suppressed carbohydrate metabolic activity. H5 and H5-CAZ treatments resulted in opposite effects on the transcriptional activity of the phosphotransferase system and the ascorbate and aldarate metabolism pathway, suggesting potential targets for phage resistance suppression. Our study reveals a novel mechanism of resistance suppression by PAS, highlighting how the complexity of bacterial adaptation to selective pressures drives treatment outcomes. IMPORTANCE Phage-antibiotic synergy (PAS) has been recently proposed as a superior strategy for the treatment of multidrug-resistant pathogens to effectively reduce bacterial load and slow down both phage and antibiotic resistance. However, the underlying mechanisms of resistance suppression by PAS have been poorly and rarely been studied. In this study, we tried to understand how PAS suppresses the emergence of resistance using a hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP) strain and a novel phage H5 in combination with ceftazidime (CAZ) as a model. Our study reveals a novel mechanism by which PAS drives altered evolutionary trajectory of bacterial populations, leading to suppressed emergence of resistance. The findings advance our understanding of how PAS suppresses the emergence of resistance, and are imperative for optimizing the efficacy of phage-antibiotic therapy to further improve clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kunhao Qin
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University; The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen, China
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Epigenetics, Clinical Medical Research Center, Affiliated Hospital of Jinggangshan University, Health Science Center, Medical Department of Jinggangshan University, Ji'an, China
| | - Xing Shi
- Shenzhen Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University; The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen, China
| | - Kai Yang
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Fujian Key Laboratory of Watershed Ecology, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, China
| | - Qiuqing Xu
- Shenzhen Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University; The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen, China
| | - Fuxing Wang
- Kobilka Institute of Innovative Drug Discovery, School of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China
| | - Senxiong Chen
- Kobilka Institute of Innovative Drug Discovery, School of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China
| | - Tingting Xu
- Shenzhen Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University; The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen, China
| | - Jinquan Liu
- Shenzhen Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University; The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen, China
| | - Wangrong Wen
- Clinical Laboratory, The Affiliated Shunde Hospital of Jinan University, Foshan, China
- Clinical Laboratory Centre, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Rongchang Chen
- Shenzhen Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University; The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen, China
| | - Zheng Liu
- Kobilka Institute of Innovative Drug Discovery, School of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China
| | - Li Cui
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Fujian Key Laboratory of Watershed Ecology, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, China
| | - Kai Zhou
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University; The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen, China
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Singh A, Tanwar M, Singh TP, Sharma S, Sharma P. An escape from ESKAPE pathogens: A comprehensive review on current and emerging therapeutics against antibiotic resistance. Int J Biol Macromol 2024:135253. [PMID: 39244118 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.135253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2024] [Revised: 08/29/2024] [Accepted: 08/30/2024] [Indexed: 09/09/2024]
Abstract
The rise of antimicrobial resistance has positioned ESKAPE pathogens as a serious global health threat, primarily due to the limitations and frequent failures of current treatment options. This growing risk has spurred the scientific community to seek innovative antibiotic therapies and improved oversight strategies. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the origins and resistance mechanisms of ESKAPE pathogens, while also exploring next-generation treatment strategies for these infections. In addition, it will address both traditional and novel approaches to combating antibiotic resistance, offering insights into potential new therapeutic avenues. Emerging research underscores the urgency of developing new antimicrobial agents and strategies to overcome resistance, highlighting the need for novel drug classes and combination therapies. Advances in genomic technologies and a deeper understanding of microbial pathogenesis are crucial in identifying effective treatments. Integrating precision medicine and personalized approaches could enhance therapeutic efficacy. The review also emphasizes the importance of global collaboration in surveillance and stewardship, as well as policy reforms, enhanced diagnostic tools, and public awareness initiatives, to address resistance on a worldwide scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anamika Singh
- Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India
| | - Mansi Tanwar
- Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India
| | - T P Singh
- Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India
| | - Sujata Sharma
- Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India.
| | - Pradeep Sharma
- Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India.
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Lin YH, Dharmaraj T, Chen Q, Echterhof A, Manasherob R, Zhang LJ, de Leeuw C, Peterson NA, Stannard W, Li Z, Hajfathalian M, Hargil A, Martinez HA, Pourtois J, Chang THW, Blankenberg FG, Amanatullah D, Chaudhuri O, Bollyky PL. Optimized Dosing and Delivery of Bacteriophage Therapy for Wound Infections. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.07.593005. [PMID: 38766200 PMCID: PMC11100690 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.07.593005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Lytic bacteriophages, viruses that lyse (kill) bacteria, hold great promise for treating infections, including wound infections caused by antimicrobial-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. However, the optimal dosing and delivery strategies for phage therapy remain unclear. In a mouse wound infection model, we investigated the impact of dose, frequency, and administration route on the efficacy of phage therapy. We find that topical but not intravenous delivery is effective in this model. High-doses of phage reduces bacterial burden more effectively than low-doses, and repeated dosing achieves the highest eradication rates. Building on these insights, we developed "HydroPhage", a hyaluronan-based hydrogel system that uses dynamic covalent crosslinking to deliver high-titre phages over one week. HydroPhage eradicates infections five times more effectively than intravenous injection. We conclude that hydrogel-based sustained phage delivery enhances the efficacy of phage therapy and offers a practical, well-tolerated option for topical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yung-Hao Lin
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Tejas Dharmaraj
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Qingquan Chen
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Arne Echterhof
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Robert Manasherob
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Stanford Hospital and Clinics, Redwood City, CA, USA
| | - Lucy J. Zhang
- Department of Material Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Cas de Leeuw
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Nana A. Peterson
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Whitney Stannard
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Zhiwei Li
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Maryam Hajfathalian
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, University Heights, Newark, NJ
| | - Aviv Hargil
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Hunter A. Martinez
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Julie Pourtois
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Tony H. W. Chang
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Francis G. Blankenberg
- Division of Pediatric Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Department of Radiology, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Derek Amanatullah
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Stanford Hospital and Clinics, Redwood City, CA, USA
| | - Ovijit Chaudhuri
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Paul L. Bollyky
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
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Ssekatawa K, Ntulume I, Byarugaba DK, Michniewski S, Jameson E, Wampande EM, Nakavuma J. Isolation and Characterization of Novel Lytic Bacteriophages Infecting Carbapenem-Resistant Pathogenic Diarrheagenic and Uropathogenic Escherichia Coli. Infect Drug Resist 2024; 17:3367-3384. [PMID: 39135747 PMCID: PMC11317518 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s466101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/31/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The evolution of antimicrobial resistance has dramatically reduced the efficacy of the first-choice and last-resort antibiotics used to treat E. coli infections. Thus, searching for novel therapeutics to treat and control the emergence of antibiotic resistance is urgent. Therefore, this study aimed to illustrate the lytic effect of phages against carbapenem-resistant pathogenic E. coli. Methods Phages were isolated from hospital effluents by the enrichment assay. This was followed by the evaluation of the host range of the phages by the spot assay. The time taken by phages to bind to the host bacterial cells was determined by the adsorption assay. The phage latent period and burst size were determined using a one-step growth experiment. Phage morphology was determined by the Transmission Electron Microscopy. Molecular characterization of phages was done by whole genome sequencing. Results Two phages named UGKSEcP1 and UGKSEcP2 were isolated from hospital effluents. The phages were professionally lytic with a broad host range. The two phages recorded an average adsorption time of 11.25 minutes, an adsorption rate of 99.3%, a latency period of 20 minutes, and a burst size of approximately 528 phages/infected cell. Phages UGKSEcP1 and UGKSEcP2 had genome lengths of 167433bp, and 167221bp with 277 and 276 predicted genes, respectively, and no undesirable genes were detected. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the two phages belonged genus Tequatrovirus. TEM micrograph showed that the two phages had a similar morphotype with icosahedral heads and contractile tails; thus, classified as members of the Myoviridae phage family. Conclusion The findings demonstrate that the study isolated two novel professionally lytic phages with a broad host range and thus, are candidates for phage-mediated biocontrol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth Ssekatawa
- Department of Science Technical and Vocational Education, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
- Africa Center of Excellence in Materials, Product Development and Nanotechnology (MAPRONANO ACE), Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Ibrahim Ntulume
- Department of Biotechnical and Diagnostic Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | | | - Eleanor Jameson
- School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Gwynedd, UK
| | - Eddie M Wampande
- Department of Veterinary Pharmacy, Clinical and Comparative Medicine, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Jesca Nakavuma
- Department of Biotechnical and Diagnostic Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
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5
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Chen L, Wu MY, Chen SL, Hu R, Wang Y, Zeng W, Feng S, Ke M, Wang L, Chen S, Gu M. The Guardian of Vision: Intelligent Bacteriophage-Based Eyedrops for Clinical Multidrug-Resistant Ocular Surface Infections. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024:e2407268. [PMID: 39091071 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202407268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2024] [Revised: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
Clinical multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MDR-PA) is the leading cause of refractory bacterial keratitis (BK). However, the reported BK treatment methods lack biosecurity and bioavailability, which usually causes irreversible visual impairment and even blindness. Herein, for BK caused by clinically isolated MDR-PA infection, armed phages are modularized with the type I photosensitizer (PS) ACR-DMT, and an intelligent phage eyedrop is developed for combined phagotherapy and photodynamic therapy (PDT). These eyedrops maximize the advantages of bacteriophages and ACR-DMT, enabling more robust and specific targeting killing of MDR-PA under low oxygen-dependence, penetrating and disrupting biofilms, and efficiently preventing biofilm reformation. Altering the biofilm and immune microenvironments alleviates inflammation noninvasively, promotes corneal healing without scar formation, protects ocular tissues, restores visual function, and prevents long-term discomfort and pain. This strategy exhibits strong scalability, enables at-home treatment of ocular surface infections with great patient compliance and a favorable prognosis, and has significant potential for clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luojia Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery, TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Ming-Yu Wu
- College of Biomedical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610031, China
| | - Si-Ling Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery, TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Rui Hu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery, TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Yifei Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery, TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Weijuan Zeng
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery, TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Shun Feng
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610031, China
| | - Min Ke
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery, TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Lianrong Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery, TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Department of Respiratory Diseases, Institute of Pediatrics, Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen, 518026, China
| | - Shi Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery, TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Microbiology in Genomic Modification & Editing and Application, Shenzhen Institute of Translational Medicine, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518035, China
| | - Meijia Gu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery, TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
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6
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Kakkar A, Kandwal G, Nayak T, Jaiswal LK, Srivastava A, Gupta A. Engineered bacteriophages: A panacea against pathogenic and drug resistant bacteria. Heliyon 2024; 10:e34333. [PMID: 39100447 PMCID: PMC11295868 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e34333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2024] [Revised: 06/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global concern; antibiotics and other regular treatment methods have failed to overcome the increasing number of infectious diseases. Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that specifically target/kill bacterial hosts without affecting other human microbiome. Phage therapy provides optimism in the current global healthcare scenario with a long history of its applications in humans that has now reached various clinical trials. Phages in clinical trials have specific requirements of being exclusively lytic, free from toxic genes with an enhanced host range that adds an advantage to this requisite. This review explains in detail the various phage engineering methods and their potential applications in therapy. To make phages more efficient, engineering has been attempted using techniques like conventional homologous recombination, Bacteriophage Recombineering of Electroporated DNA (BRED), clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas, CRISPY-BRED/Bacteriophage Recombineering with Infectious Particles (BRIP), chemically accelerated viral evolution (CAVE), and phage genome rebooting. Phages are administered in cocktail form in combination with antibiotics, vaccines, and purified proteins, such as endolysins. Thus, phage therapy is proving to be a better alternative for treating life-threatening infections, with more specificity and fewer detrimental consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anuja Kakkar
- Molecular Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, UP, 221005, India
| | - Garima Kandwal
- Molecular Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, UP, 221005, India
| | - Tanmayee Nayak
- Molecular Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, UP, 221005, India
| | - Lav Kumar Jaiswal
- Molecular Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, UP, 221005, India
| | - Amit Srivastava
- University of Jyväskylä, Nanoscience Centre, Department of Biological and Environmental Science, 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Ankush Gupta
- Molecular Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, UP, 221005, India
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7
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Guo Z, Yuan M, Chai J. Mini review advantages and limitations of lytic phages compared with chemical antibiotics to combat bacterial infections. Heliyon 2024; 10:e34849. [PMID: 39148970 PMCID: PMC11324966 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e34849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024] Open
Abstract
The overuse of antibiotics has caused the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains, such as multidrug-resistant, extensively drug-resistant, and pandrug-resistant bacteria. The treatment of infections caused by such strains has become a formidable challenge. In the post-antibiotic era, phage therapy is an attractive solution for this problem and some successful phase 1 and 2 studies have demonstrated the efficacy and safety of phage therapy over the last decade. It is a form of evolutionary medicine, phages exhibit immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties. However, phage therapy is limited by factors, such as the narrow spectrum of host strains, the special pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in vivo, immune responses, and the development of phage resistance. The aim of this minireview was to compare the potencies of lytic phages and chemical antibiotics to treat bacterial infections. The advantages of phage therapy has fewer side effects, self-replication, evolution, bacterial biofilms eradication, immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties compared with chemical antibiotics. Meanwhile, the disadvantages of phage therapy include the narrow spectrum of available host strains, the special pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in vivo, immune responses, and phage resistance hurdles. Recently, some researchers continue to make efforts to overcome these limitations of phage therapy. Phage therapy will be a welcome addition to the gamut of options available for treating antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. We focus on the advantages and limitations of phage therapy with the intention of exploiting the advantages and overcoming the limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhimin Guo
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Pathogen Biology Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Mengyao Yuan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Pathogen Biology Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Jiannan Chai
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
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8
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Thompson DL, Semersky Z, Feinn R, Huang P, Turner PE, Chan BK, Koff JL, Murray TS. Particle size distribution of viable nebulized bacteriophage for the treatment of multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Respir Med Res 2024; 86:101133. [PMID: 39121591 DOI: 10.1016/j.resmer.2024.101133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/21/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Richard Feinn
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Frank Netter School of Medicine, Quinnipiac University, North Haven, CT, United States
| | - Pamela Huang
- Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Paul E Turner
- Program in Microbiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States; Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States; Center for Phage Biology & Therapy, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Ben K Chan
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States; Center for Phage Biology & Therapy, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Jonathan L Koff
- Center for Phage Biology & Therapy, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States; Department of Internal Medicine Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Thomas S Murray
- Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States.
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9
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Yang S, Meng X, Zhen Y, Baima Q, Wang Y, Jiang X, Xu Z. Strategies and mechanisms targeting Enterococcus faecalis biofilms associated with endodontic infections: a comprehensive review. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1433313. [PMID: 39091674 PMCID: PMC11291369 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1433313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Enterococcus faecalis is one of the main microorganisms that infects root canals, ranking among the most prevalent microorganisms associated with endodontic treatment failure. Given its pervasive presence in persistent endodontic infections, the successful elimination of Enterococcus faecalis is crucial for effective endodontic treatment and retreatment. Furthermore, Enterococcus faecalis can form biofilms - defense structures that microbes use to fight environmental threats. These biofilms confer resistance against host immune system attacks and antibiotic interventions. Consequently, the presence of biofilms poses a significant challenge in the complete eradication of Enterococcus faecalis and its associated disease. In response, numerous scholars have discovered promising outcomes in addressing Enterococcus faecalis biofilms within root canals and undertaken endeavors to explore more efficacious approaches in combating these biofilms. This study provides a comprehensive review of strategies and mechanisms for the removal of Enterococcus faecalis biofilms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shipeng Yang
- Department of Endodontics, Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xiuping Meng
- Department of Endodontics, Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yuqi Zhen
- Department of Endodontics, Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Quzhen Baima
- Department of Endodontics, Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Department of Dental Implantology, Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xinmiao Jiang
- Department of Endodontics, Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Zhibo Xu
- Department of Endodontics, Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, Changchun, China
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10
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Alipour-Khezri E, Skurnik M, Zarrini G. Pseudomonas aeruginosa Bacteriophages and Their Clinical Applications. Viruses 2024; 16:1051. [PMID: 39066214 PMCID: PMC11281547 DOI: 10.3390/v16071051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2024] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance poses a serious risk to contemporary healthcare since it reduces the number of bacterial illnesses that may be treated with antibiotics, particularly for patients with long-term conditions like cystic fibrosis (CF). People with a genetic predisposition to CF often have recurrent bacterial infections in their lungs due to a buildup of sticky mucus, necessitating long-term antibiotic treatment. Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections are a major cause of CF lung illness, and P. aeruginosa airway isolates are frequently resistant to many antibiotics. Bacteriophages (also known as phages), viruses that infect bacteria, are a viable substitute for antimicrobials to treat P. aeruginosa infections in individuals with CF. Here, we reviewed the utilization of P. aeruginosa bacteriophages both in vivo and in vitro, as well as in the treatment of illnesses and diseases, and the outcomes of the latter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elaheh Alipour-Khezri
- Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz 51368, Iran;
| | - Mikael Skurnik
- Human Microbiome Research Program, and Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Gholamreza Zarrini
- Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz 51368, Iran;
- Microbial Biotechnology Research Group, University of Tabriz, Tabriz 51368, Iran
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11
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Lewis JM, Williams J, Sagona AP. Making the leap from technique to treatment - genetic engineering is paving the way for more efficient phage therapy. Biochem Soc Trans 2024; 52:1373-1384. [PMID: 38716972 PMCID: PMC11346441 DOI: 10.1042/bst20231289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 03/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses specific to bacteria that target them with great efficiency and specificity. Phages were first studied for their antibacterial potential in the early twentieth century; however, their use was largely eclipsed by the popularity of antibiotics. Given the surge of antimicrobial-resistant strains worldwide, there has been a renaissance in harnessing phages as therapeutics once more. One of the key advantages of phages is their amenability to modification, allowing the generation of numerous derivatives optimised for specific functions depending on the modification. These enhanced derivatives could display higher infectivity, expanded host range or greater affinity to human tissues, where some bacterial species exert their pathogenesis. Despite this, there has been a noticeable discrepancy between the generation of derivatives in vitro and their clinical application in vivo. In most instances, phage therapy is only used on a compassionate-use basis, where all other treatment options have been exhausted. A lack of clinical trials and numerous regulatory hurdles hamper the progress of phage therapy and in turn, the engineered variants, in becoming widely used in the clinic. In this review, we outline the various types of modifications enacted upon phages and how these modifications contribute to their enhanced bactericidal function compared with wild-type phages. We also discuss the nascent progress of genetically modified phages in clinical trials along with the current issues these are confronted with, to validate it as a therapy in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joshua Williams
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, U.K
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12
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Sun M, Gao J, Tang H, Wu T, Ma Q, Zhang S, Zuo Y, Li Q. Increasing CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing efficiency in T7 phage by reducing the escape rate based on insight into the survival mechanism. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2024; 56:937-944. [PMID: 38761011 PMCID: PMC11294054 DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2024030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophages have been used across various fields, and the utilization of CRISPR/Cas-based genome editing technology can accelerate the research and applications of bacteriophages. However, some bacteriophages can escape from the cleavage of Cas protein, such as Cas9, and decrease the efficiency of genome editing. This study focuses on the bacteriophage T7, which is widely utilized but whose mechanism of evading the cleavage of CRISPR/Cas9 has not been elucidated. First, we test the escape rates of T7 phage at different cleavage sites, ranging from 10 -2 to 10 -5. The sequencing results show that DNA point mutations and microhomology-mediated end joining (MMEJ) at the target sites are the main causes. Next, we indicate the existence of the hotspot DNA region of MMEJ and successfully reduce MMEJ events by designing targeted sites that bypass the hotspot DNA region. Moreover, we also knock out the ATP-dependent DNA ligase 1. 3 gene, which may be involved in the MMEJ event, and the frequency of MMEJ at 4. 3 is reduced from 83% to 18%. Finally, the genome editing efficiency in T7 Δ 1. 3 increases from 20% to 100%. This study reveals the mechanism of T7 phage evasion from the cleavage of CRISPR/Cas9 and demonstrates that the special design of editing sites or the deletion of key gene 1. 3 can reduce MMEJ events and enhance gene editing efficiency. These findings will contribute to advancing CRISPR/Cas-based tools for efficient genome editing in phages and provide a theoretical foundation for the broader application of phages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingjun Sun
- College of Life SciencesSichuan Normal UniversityChengdu610101China
| | - Jie Gao
- College of Life SciencesSichuan Normal UniversityChengdu610101China
| | - Hongjie Tang
- College of Life SciencesSichuan Normal UniversityChengdu610101China
| | - Ting Wu
- College of Life SciencesSichuan Normal UniversityChengdu610101China
| | - Qinqin Ma
- College of Life SciencesSichuan Normal UniversityChengdu610101China
| | - Suyi Zhang
- Luzhou Laojiao CoLtdLuzhou646000China
- National Engineering Research Center of Solid-State BrewingLuzhou646000China
| | - Yong Zuo
- College of Life SciencesSichuan Normal UniversityChengdu610101China
| | - Qi Li
- College of Life SciencesSichuan Normal UniversityChengdu610101China
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13
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Kovacs CJ, Rapp EM, Rankin WR, McKenzie SM, Brasko BK, Hebert KE, Bachert BA, Kick AR, Burpo FJ, Barnhill JC. Combinations of Bacteriophage Are Efficacious against Multidrug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enhance Sensitivity to Carbapenem Antibiotics. Viruses 2024; 16:1000. [PMID: 39066163 PMCID: PMC11281517 DOI: 10.3390/v16071000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2024] [Revised: 06/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The Gram-negative ESKAPE bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa has become a pathogen of serious concern due its extensive multi-drug resistance (MDR) profile, widespread incidences of hospital-acquired infections throughout the United States, and high occurrence in wound infections suffered by warfighters serving abroad. Bacteriophage (phage) therapy has received renewed attention as an alternative therapeutic option against recalcitrant bacterial infections, both as multi-phage cocktails and in combination with antibiotics as synergistic pairings. Environmental screening and phage enrichment has yielded three lytic viruses capable of infecting the MDR P. aeruginosa strain PAO1. Co-administration of each phage with the carbapenem antibiotics ertapenem, imipenem, and meropenem generated enhanced overall killing of bacteria beyond either phage or drug treatments alone. A combination cocktail of all three phages was completely inhibitory to growth, even without antibiotics. The same 3× phage cocktail also disrupted PAO1 biofilms, reducing biomass by over 75% compared to untreated biofilms. Further, the phage cocktail demonstrated broad efficacy as well, capable of infecting 33 out of 100 diverse clinical isolate strains of P. aeruginosa. Together, these results indicate a promising approach for designing layered medical countermeasures to potentiate antibiotic activity and possibly overcome resistance against recalcitrant, MDR bacteria such as P. aeruginosa. Combination therapy, either by synergistic phage-antibiotic pairings, or by phage cocktails, presents a means of controlling mutations that can allow for bacteria to gain a competitive edge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J. Kovacs
- United States Military Academy, West Point, NY 10996, USA; (C.J.K.); (E.M.R.); (W.R.R.); (S.M.M.); (B.K.B.); (K.E.H.); (B.A.B.); (A.R.K.); (F.J.B.)
- Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060, USA
| | - Erika M. Rapp
- United States Military Academy, West Point, NY 10996, USA; (C.J.K.); (E.M.R.); (W.R.R.); (S.M.M.); (B.K.B.); (K.E.H.); (B.A.B.); (A.R.K.); (F.J.B.)
| | - William R. Rankin
- United States Military Academy, West Point, NY 10996, USA; (C.J.K.); (E.M.R.); (W.R.R.); (S.M.M.); (B.K.B.); (K.E.H.); (B.A.B.); (A.R.K.); (F.J.B.)
| | - Sophia M. McKenzie
- United States Military Academy, West Point, NY 10996, USA; (C.J.K.); (E.M.R.); (W.R.R.); (S.M.M.); (B.K.B.); (K.E.H.); (B.A.B.); (A.R.K.); (F.J.B.)
| | - Brianna K. Brasko
- United States Military Academy, West Point, NY 10996, USA; (C.J.K.); (E.M.R.); (W.R.R.); (S.M.M.); (B.K.B.); (K.E.H.); (B.A.B.); (A.R.K.); (F.J.B.)
| | - Katherine E. Hebert
- United States Military Academy, West Point, NY 10996, USA; (C.J.K.); (E.M.R.); (W.R.R.); (S.M.M.); (B.K.B.); (K.E.H.); (B.A.B.); (A.R.K.); (F.J.B.)
| | - Beth A. Bachert
- United States Military Academy, West Point, NY 10996, USA; (C.J.K.); (E.M.R.); (W.R.R.); (S.M.M.); (B.K.B.); (K.E.H.); (B.A.B.); (A.R.K.); (F.J.B.)
| | - Andrew R. Kick
- United States Military Academy, West Point, NY 10996, USA; (C.J.K.); (E.M.R.); (W.R.R.); (S.M.M.); (B.K.B.); (K.E.H.); (B.A.B.); (A.R.K.); (F.J.B.)
| | - F. John Burpo
- United States Military Academy, West Point, NY 10996, USA; (C.J.K.); (E.M.R.); (W.R.R.); (S.M.M.); (B.K.B.); (K.E.H.); (B.A.B.); (A.R.K.); (F.J.B.)
| | - Jason C. Barnhill
- United States Military Academy, West Point, NY 10996, USA; (C.J.K.); (E.M.R.); (W.R.R.); (S.M.M.); (B.K.B.); (K.E.H.); (B.A.B.); (A.R.K.); (F.J.B.)
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14
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Wannasrichan W, Krobthong S, Morgan CJ, Armbruster EG, Gerovac M, Yingchutrakul Y, Wongtrakoongate P, Vogel J, Aonbangkhen C, Nonejuie P, Pogliano J, Chaikeeratisak V. A phage nucleus-associated protein from the jumbophage Churi inhibits bacterial growth through protein translation interference. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.15.599175. [PMID: 38915640 PMCID: PMC11195228 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.15.599175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
Antibacterial proteins inhibiting Pseudomonas aeruginosa have been identified in various phages and explored as antibiotic alternatives. Here, we isolated a phiKZ-like phage, Churi, which encodes 364 open reading frames. We examined 15 early-expressed phage proteins for their ability to inhibit bacterial growth, and found that gp335, closely related to phiKZ-gp14, exhibits antibacterial activity. Similar to phiKZ-gp14, recently shown to form a complex with the P. aeruginosa ribosome, we predict experimentally that gp335 interacts with ribosomal proteins, suggesting its involvement in protein translation. GFP-tagged gp335 clusters around the phage nucleus as early as 15 minutes post-infection and remains associated with it throughout the infection, suggesting its role in protein expression in the cell cytoplasm. CRISPR-Cas13-mediated deletion of gp355 reveals that the mutant phage has a prolonged latent period. Altogether, we demonstrate that gp335 is an antibacterial protein of nucleus-forming phages that associates with the ribosomes at the phage nucleus.
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15
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Zeng X, Liang S, Dong J, Gao G, Hu Y, Sun Y. The trade-off of Vibrio parahaemolyticus between bacteriophage resistance and growth competitiveness. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1346251. [PMID: 38919495 PMCID: PMC11196418 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1346251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a food-borne pathogen, which is often isolated from various seafood products. In this study, two kinds of bacteriophages was isolated from the offshore sediments samples. The anti-phage mutant strain were obtained after seventeen rounds of co-culture of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and mixed bacteriophage, multigroup sequencing was carried out on spontaneous the anti-phage mutant strain and the wild-type strain. We used the Sanger sequencing to verify the accuracy of the mutation sites. Biolog GEN III MicroPlates were used to evaluate the metabolic capacity of wild-type strains and the anti-phage mutant strain. In this study, we found that with flaG gene (slight homology to N terminus of multiple flagellins) mutated, making the bacteriophage unable to absorb to the cell surface of the host. And, the growth competitiveness of the anti-phage mutant strain is lower than the wild-type strain. These results indicated that the fitness cost, including loss of the growth competitiveness, constitutes a barrier to the prevalence of these defense mechanisms. And the selection pressure on different anti-phage strategies depends on the trade-off between mortality imposed by bacteriophages and fitness cost of the defense strategy under the given environmental conditions. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the phage-host interaction and phage resistance in Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Our study provided knowledge for the evolutionary adaption of bacteria against the bacteriophage, which could add more information to understand the phage resistance mechanism before applying in the industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuxiu Zeng
- Ningbo No.2 Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
- Guoke Ningbo Life Science and Health Industry Research Institute, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
| | | | - Jiayi Dong
- Guoke Ningbo Life Science and Health Industry Research Institute, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
| | | | - Yaoren Hu
- Ningbo No.2 Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yuechao Sun
- Ningbo No.2 Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
- Guoke Ningbo Life Science and Health Industry Research Institute, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
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16
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Aparicio-Blanco J, Vishwakarma N, Lehr CM, Prestidge CA, Thomas N, Roberts RJ, Thorn CR, Melero A. Antibiotic resistance and tolerance: What can drug delivery do against this global threat? Drug Deliv Transl Res 2024; 14:1725-1734. [PMID: 38341386 PMCID: PMC11052818 DOI: 10.1007/s13346-023-01513-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance and tolerance (AMR&T) are urgent global health concerns, with alarmingly increasing numbers of antimicrobial drugs failing and a corresponding rise in related deaths. Several reasons for this situation can be cited, such as the misuse of traditional antibiotics, the massive use of sanitizing measures, and the overuse of antibiotics in agriculture, fisheries, and cattle. AMR&T management requires a multifaceted approach involving various strategies at different levels, such as increasing the patient's awareness of the situation and measures to reduce new resistances, reduction of current misuse or abuse, and improvement of selectivity of treatments. Also, the identification of new antibiotics, including small molecules and more complex approaches, is a key factor. Among these, novel DNA- or RNA-based approaches, the use of phages, or CRISPR technologies are some potent strategies under development. In this perspective article, emerging and experienced leaders in drug delivery discuss the most important biological barriers for drugs to reach infectious bacteria (bacterial bioavailability). They explore how overcoming these barriers is crucial for producing the desired effects and discuss the ways in which drug delivery systems can facilitate this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Aparicio-Blanco
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Food Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Nikhar Vishwakarma
- Department of Pharmacy, Gyan Ganga Institute of Technology and Sciences, Jabalpur, 482003, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Claus-Michael Lehr
- Department Drug Delivery across Biological Barriers (DDEL), Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Saarbrücken, Germany
- Department of Pharmacy, Saarland University, Campus Building E8 1, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Clive A Prestidge
- Centre for Pharmaceutical Innovation, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia
| | - Nicky Thomas
- Centre for Pharmaceutical Innovation, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia
| | | | - Chelsea R Thorn
- Biotherapeutics Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Pfizer, Inc., 1 Burtt Road, Andover, MA, 01810, USA.
| | - Ana Melero
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Valencia, 46100, Burjassot, Spain.
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17
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Khosravi A, Chen Q, Echterhof A, Koff JL, Bollyky PL. Phage Therapy for Respiratory Infections: Opportunities and Challenges. Lung 2024; 202:223-232. [PMID: 38772946 DOI: 10.1007/s00408-024-00700-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
We are entering the post-antibiotic era. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a critical problem in chronic lung infections resulting in progressive respiratory failure and increased mortality. In the absence of emerging novel antibiotics to counter AMR infections, bacteriophages (phages), viruses that infect bacteria, have become a promising option for chronic respiratory infections. However, while personalized phage therapy is associated with improved outcomes in individual cases, clinical trials demonstrating treatment efficacy are lacking, limiting the therapeutic potential of this approach for respiratory infections. In this review, we address the current state of phage therapy for managing chronic respiratory diseases. We then discuss how phage therapy may address major microbiologic obstacles which hinder disease resolution of chronic lung infections with current antibiotic-based treatment practices. Finally, we highlight the challenges that must be addressed for successful phage therapy clinical trials. Through this discussion, we hope to expand on the potential of phages as an adjuvant therapy in chronic lung infections, as well as the microbiologic challenges that need to be addressed for phage therapy to expand beyond personalized salvage therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arya Khosravi
- Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, 279 Campus Drive, Beckman Center, Room B237, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
| | - Qingquan Chen
- Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Arne Echterhof
- Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Jonathan L Koff
- Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Paul L Bollyky
- Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
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18
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Alipour-Khezri E, Moqadami A, Barzegar A, Mahdavi M, Skurnik M, Zarrini G. Bacteriophages and Green Synthesized Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles in Combination Are Efficient against Biofilm Formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Viruses 2024; 16:897. [PMID: 38932188 PMCID: PMC11209622 DOI: 10.3390/v16060897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that infect the bacteria within which their reproduction cycle takes place, a process that ends in the lysis and death of the bacterial cell. Some phages are also able to destroy bacterial biofilms. Due to increased antibiotics resistance, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, another biofilm-forming pathogen, is a problem in many parts of the world. Zinc oxide (ZnO) and other metal nanoparticles (NPs) are biologically active and also possess anti-biofilm properties. ZnO-NPs were prepared by the green synthesis method using orange peels. The vibrational peaks of the ZnO-NPs were analyzed using FTIR analysis, and their size and morphological properties were determined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The ability of the ZnO-NPs to reduce or eliminate P. aeruginosa biofilm alone or in combination with phages PB10 and PA19 was investigated. The P. aeruginosa cells were effectively killed in the preformed 48 h biofilms during a 24 h incubation with the ZnO-NP-phage combination, in comparison with the control or ZnO-NPs alone. The treatments on growing biofilms were most efficient in the final stages of biofilm development. All five treatment groups showed a significant biofilm reduction compared to the control group (p < 0.0001) at 48 h of incubation. The influence of the ZnO-NPs and phages on the quorum sensing system of P. aeruginosa was monitored by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) of the autoinducer biosynthesis gene lasI. While the ZnO-NPs repressed the lasI gene transcription, the phages slightly activated it at 24 and 48 h of incubation. Also, the effect of the ZnO-NPs and phage PA19 on the viability of HFF2 cells was investigated and the results showed that the combination of NPs with PA19 reduced the toxic effect of ZnO-NPs and also stimulated the growth in normal cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elaheh Alipour-Khezri
- Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz 5166616471, Iran; (E.A.-K.); (A.M.); (A.B.)
| | - Amin Moqadami
- Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz 5166616471, Iran; (E.A.-K.); (A.M.); (A.B.)
| | - Abolfazl Barzegar
- Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz 5166616471, Iran; (E.A.-K.); (A.M.); (A.B.)
| | - Majid Mahdavi
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran 1417614335, Iran;
| | - Mikael Skurnik
- Human Microbiome Research Program, and Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Gholamreza Zarrini
- Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz 5166616471, Iran; (E.A.-K.); (A.M.); (A.B.)
- Microbial Biotechnology Research Group, University of Tabriz, Tabriz 5166616471, Iran
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19
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Kovacs CJ, Rapp EM, McKenzie SM, Mazur MZ, Mchale RP, Brasko B, Min MY, Burpo FJ, Barnhill JC. Disruption of Biofilm by Bacteriophages in Clinically Relevant Settings. Mil Med 2024; 189:e1294-e1302. [PMID: 37847552 DOI: 10.1093/milmed/usad385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 07/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are a growing threat to civilian and military health today. Although infections were once easily treatable by antibiotics and wound cleaning, the frequent mutation of bacteria has created strains impermeable to antibiotics and physical attack. Bacteria further their pathogenicity because of their ability to form biofilms on wounds, medical devices, and implant surfaces. Methods for treating biofilms in clinical settings are limited, and when formed by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, can generate chronic infections that are recalcitrant to available therapies. Bacteriophages are natural viral predators of bacteria, and their ability to rapidly destroy their host has led to increased attention in potential phage therapy applications. MATERIALS AND METHODS The present article sought to address a knowledge gap in the available literature pertaining to the usage of bacteriophage in clinically relevant settings and the resolution of infections particular to military concerns. PRISMA guidelines were followed for a systematic review of available literature that met the criteria for analysis and inclusion. The research completed for this review article originated from the U.S. Military Academy's library "Scout" search engine, which complies results from 254 available databases (including PubMed, Google Scholar, and SciFinder). The search criteria included original studies that employed bacteriophage use against biofilms, as well as successful phage therapy strategies for combating chronic bacterial infections. We specifically explored the use of bacteriophage against antibiotic- and treatment-resistant bacteria. RESULTS A total of 80 studies were identified that met the inclusion criteria following PRISMA guidelines. The application of bacteriophage has been demonstrated to robustly disrupt biofilm growth in wounds and on implant surfaces. When traditional therapies have failed to disrupt biofilms and chronic infections, a combination of these treatments with phage has proven to be effective, often leading to complete wound healing without reinfection. CONCLUSIONS This review article examines the available literature where bacteriophages have been utilized to treat biofilms in clinically relevant settings. Specific attention is paid to biofilms on implant medical devices, biofilms formed on wounds, and clinical outcomes, where phage treatment has been efficacious. In addition to the clinical benefit of phage therapies, the military relevance and treatment of combat-related infections is also examined. Phages offer the ability to expand available treatment options in austere environments with relatively low cost and effort, allowing the impacted warfighter to return to duty quicker and healthier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J Kovacs
- Department of Chemistry and Life Science, United States Military Academy, West Point, NY 10996, USA
- Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060, USA
| | - Erika M Rapp
- Department of Chemistry and Life Science, United States Military Academy, West Point, NY 10996, USA
| | - Sophia M McKenzie
- Department of Chemistry and Life Science, United States Military Academy, West Point, NY 10996, USA
| | - Michael Z Mazur
- Department of Chemistry and Life Science, United States Military Academy, West Point, NY 10996, USA
| | - Riley P Mchale
- Department of Chemistry and Life Science, United States Military Academy, West Point, NY 10996, USA
| | - Briana Brasko
- Department of Chemistry and Life Science, United States Military Academy, West Point, NY 10996, USA
| | - Michael Y Min
- Department of Chemistry and Life Science, United States Military Academy, West Point, NY 10996, USA
| | - F John Burpo
- Department of Chemistry and Life Science, United States Military Academy, West Point, NY 10996, USA
| | - Jason C Barnhill
- Department of Chemistry and Life Science, United States Military Academy, West Point, NY 10996, USA
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20
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Passerini M, Petri F, Suh GA. Phage Therapy for Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices and Vascular Grafts: A Targeted Literature Review. Pathogens 2024; 13:424. [PMID: 38787276 PMCID: PMC11123972 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13050424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Revised: 05/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Infections of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) and vascular grafts are some of the most dreaded complications of these otherwise life-saving devices. Many of these infections are not responsive to conventional treatment, such as systemic antibiotics and surgical irrigation and debridement. Therefore, innovative strategies to prevent and manage these conditions are warranted. Among these, there is an increasing interest in phages as a therapeutical option. In this review, we aim to collect the available evidence for the clinical application of phage therapy for CIED and vascular graft infections through literature research. We found 17 studies for a total of 34 patients. Most of the indications were left ventricular assist device (LVAD) (n = 20) and vascular graft infections (n = 7). The bacteria most often encountered were Staphylococcus aureus (n = 18) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 16). Clinical improvements were observed in 21/34 (61.8%) patients, with microbiological eradication in 18/21 (85.7%) of them. In eight cases, an adverse event related to phage therapy was reported. Phage therapy is a promising option for difficult-to-treat CIED and vascular graft infections by means of an individualized approach. Clinical trials and expanded access programs for compassionate use are needed to further unveil the role of phage therapy in clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Passerini
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milano, 20122 Milan, Italy;
- Department of Infectious Disease, ASST FBF Sacco Milano, 20157 Milan, Italy;
- ESGNTA–ESCMID Study Group for Non-Traditional Antibacterials, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Francesco Petri
- Department of Infectious Disease, ASST FBF Sacco Milano, 20157 Milan, Italy;
- Division of Public Health, Infectious Diseases and Occupational Medicine, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, 55905 MN, USA
| | - Gina A. Suh
- ESGNTA–ESCMID Study Group for Non-Traditional Antibacterials, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
- Division of Public Health, Infectious Diseases and Occupational Medicine, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, 55905 MN, USA
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21
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Naknaen A, Samernate T, Saeju P, Nonejuie P, Chaikeeratisak V. Nucleus-forming jumbophage PhiKZ therapeutically outcompetes non-nucleus-forming jumbophage Callisto. iScience 2024; 27:109790. [PMID: 38726363 PMCID: PMC11079468 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
With the recent resurgence of phage therapy in modern medicine, jumbophages are currently under the spotlight due to their numerous advantages as anti-infective agents. However, most significant discoveries to date have primarily focused on nucleus-forming jumbophages, not their non-nucleus-forming counterparts. In this study, we compare the biological characteristics exhibited by two genetically diverse jumbophages: 1) the well-studied nucleus-forming jumbophage, PhiKZ; and 2) the newly discovered non-nucleus-forming jumbophage, Callisto. Single-cell infection studies further show that Callisto possesses different replication machinery, resulting in a delay in phage maturation compared to that of PhiKZ. The therapeutic potency of both phages was examined in vitro and in vivo, demonstrating that PhiKZ holds certain superior characteristics over Callisto. This research sheds light on the importance of the subcellular infection machinery and the organized progeny maturation process, which could potentially provide valuable insight in the future development of jumbophage-based therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ampapan Naknaen
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Thanadon Samernate
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
| | - Panida Saeju
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Poochit Nonejuie
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
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22
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Glonti T, Goossens M, Cochez C, Green S, Gorivale S, Wagemans J, Lavigne R, Pirnay JP. Use of the Naturally Occurring Bacteriophage Grouping Model for the Design of Potent Therapeutic Cocktails. Antibiotics (Basel) 2024; 13:385. [PMID: 38786114 PMCID: PMC11117255 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics13050385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2024] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The specificity of phages and their ability to evolve and overcome bacterial resistance make them potentially useful as adjuncts in the treatment of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. The goal of this study was to mimic a natural grouping of phages of interest and to evaluate the nature of their proliferation dynamics with bacteria. We have, for the first time, transferred naturally occurring phage groups directly from their sources of isolation to in vitro and identified 13 P. aeruginosa and 11 K. pneumoniae phages of 18 different genera, whose host range was grouped as 1.2-17%, 28-48% and 60-87%, using a large collection of P. aeruginosa (n = 102) and K. pneumoniae (n = 155) strains carrying different virulence factors and phage binding receptors. We introduced the interpretation model curve for phage liquid culturing, which allows easy and quick analysis of bacterial and phage co-proliferation and growth of phage-resistant mutants (PRM) based on qualitative and partially quantitative evaluations. We assayed phage lytic activities both individually and in 14 different cocktails on planktonic bacterial cultures, including three resistotypes of P. aeruginosa (PAO1, PA14 and PA7) and seven K. pneumoniae strains of different capsular serotypes. Based on the results, the natural phage cocktails designed and tested in this study largely performed well and inhibited PRM growth either synergistically or in proto-cooperation. This study contributes to the knowledge of phage behavior in cocktails and the formulation of therapeutic phage preparations. The paper also provides a detailed description of the methods of working with phages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tea Glonti
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Technology, Queen Astrid Military Hospital, B-1120 Brussels, Belgium; (M.G.); (C.C.); (J.-P.P.)
| | - Michael Goossens
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Technology, Queen Astrid Military Hospital, B-1120 Brussels, Belgium; (M.G.); (C.C.); (J.-P.P.)
| | - Christel Cochez
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Technology, Queen Astrid Military Hospital, B-1120 Brussels, Belgium; (M.G.); (C.C.); (J.-P.P.)
| | - Sabrina Green
- Laboratory of Gene Technology, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium; (S.G.); (S.G.); (J.W.); (R.L.)
| | - Sayali Gorivale
- Laboratory of Gene Technology, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium; (S.G.); (S.G.); (J.W.); (R.L.)
| | - Jeroen Wagemans
- Laboratory of Gene Technology, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium; (S.G.); (S.G.); (J.W.); (R.L.)
| | - Rob Lavigne
- Laboratory of Gene Technology, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium; (S.G.); (S.G.); (J.W.); (R.L.)
| | - Jean-Paul Pirnay
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Technology, Queen Astrid Military Hospital, B-1120 Brussels, Belgium; (M.G.); (C.C.); (J.-P.P.)
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23
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Loganathan A, Bozdogan B, Manohar P, Nachimuthu R. Phage-antibiotic combinations in various treatment modalities to manage MRSA infections. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1356179. [PMID: 38659581 PMCID: PMC11041375 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1356179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction: The emergence of antibiotic resistance is a significant challenge in the treatment of bacterial infections, particularly in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Phage-antibiotic combination therapy is now being utilized as a preferred therapeutic option for infections that are multi-drug resistant in nature. Methods: In this study, we examined the combined impact of the staph phage vB_Sau_S90 and four antibiotics on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). We conducted experiments on three different treatment sequences: a) administering phages before antibiotics, b) administering phages and antibiotics simultaneously, and c) administering antibiotics before phages. Results: When the media was supplemented with sub-inhibitory concentrations of 0.25 μg/mL and 1 μg/mL, the size of the plaque increased from 0.5 ± 0.1 mm (in the control group with only the phage) to 4 ± 0.2 mm, 1.6 ± 0.1 mm, and 1.6 ± 0.4 mm when fosfomycin, ciprofloxacin, and oxacillin were added, respectively. The checkerboard analysis revealed a synergistic effect between the phages and antibiotics investigated, as indicated by a FIC value of less than 0.5. The combination treatment of phages and antibiotics demonstrated universal efficacy across all treatments. Nevertheless, the optimal effectiveness was demonstrated when the antibiotics were delivered subsequent to the phages. Utilizing the Galleria mellonella model, in vivo experiments showed that the combination of phage-oxacillin effectively eliminated biofilm-infected larvae, resulting in a survival rate of up to 80% in the treated groups. Discussion: Our findings highlight the advantages of using a combination of phage and antibiotic over using phages alone in the treatment of MRSA infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Archana Loganathan
- School of Bioscience and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, India
| | - Bulent Bozdogan
- Medical Microbiology Department, Adnan Menderes University, Aydin, Türkiye
| | - Prasanth Manohar
- School of Bioscience and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, India
| | - Ramesh Nachimuthu
- School of Bioscience and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, India
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24
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Berkson JD, Wate CE, Allen GB, Schubert AM, Dunbar KE, Coryell MP, Sava RL, Gao Y, Hastie JL, Smith EM, Kenneally CR, Zimmermann SK, Carlson PE. Phage-specific immunity impairs efficacy of bacteriophage targeting Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus in a murine model. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2993. [PMID: 38582763 PMCID: PMC10998888 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47192-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophage therapy is a promising approach to address antimicrobial infections though questions remain regarding the impact of the immune response on clinical effectiveness. Here, we develop a mouse model to assess phage treatment using a cocktail of five phages from the Myoviridae and Siphoviridae families that target Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus gut colonization. Phage treatment significantly reduces fecal bacterial loads of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus. We also characterize immune responses elicited following administration of the phage cocktail. While minimal innate responses are observed after phage administration, two rounds of treatment induces phage-specific neutralizing antibodies and accelerate phage clearance from tissues. Interestingly, the myophages in our cocktail induce a more robust neutralizing antibody response than the siphophages. This anti-phage immunity reduces the effectiveness of the phage cocktail in our murine model. Collectively, this study shows phage-specific immune responses may be an important consideration in the development of phage cocktails for therapeutic use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia D Berkson
- Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Division of Bacterial Parasitic and Allergenic Products, Laboratory of Mucosal Pathogens and Cellular Immunology, 10903 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20832, USA
| | - Claire E Wate
- Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Division of Bacterial Parasitic and Allergenic Products, Laboratory of Mucosal Pathogens and Cellular Immunology, 10903 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20832, USA
| | - Garrison B Allen
- Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Division of Bacterial Parasitic and Allergenic Products, Laboratory of Mucosal Pathogens and Cellular Immunology, 10903 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20832, USA
| | - Alyxandria M Schubert
- Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Division of Bacterial Parasitic and Allergenic Products, Laboratory of Mucosal Pathogens and Cellular Immunology, 10903 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20832, USA
| | - Kristin E Dunbar
- Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Division of Bacterial Parasitic and Allergenic Products, Laboratory of Mucosal Pathogens and Cellular Immunology, 10903 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20832, USA
| | - Michael P Coryell
- Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Division of Bacterial Parasitic and Allergenic Products, Laboratory of Mucosal Pathogens and Cellular Immunology, 10903 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20832, USA
| | - Rosa L Sava
- Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Division of Bacterial Parasitic and Allergenic Products, Laboratory of Mucosal Pathogens and Cellular Immunology, 10903 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20832, USA
| | - Yamei Gao
- Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Division of Viral Products, Laboratory of Pediatric and Respiratory Viral Diseases, 10903 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20832, USA
| | - Jessica L Hastie
- Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Division of Bacterial Parasitic and Allergenic Products, Laboratory of Mucosal Pathogens and Cellular Immunology, 10903 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20832, USA
| | - Emily M Smith
- Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Division of Bacterial Parasitic and Allergenic Products, Laboratory of Mucosal Pathogens and Cellular Immunology, 10903 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20832, USA
| | - Charlotte R Kenneally
- Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Division of Bacterial Parasitic and Allergenic Products, Laboratory of Mucosal Pathogens and Cellular Immunology, 10903 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20832, USA
| | - Sally K Zimmermann
- Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Division of Bacterial Parasitic and Allergenic Products, Laboratory of Mucosal Pathogens and Cellular Immunology, 10903 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20832, USA
| | - Paul E Carlson
- Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Division of Bacterial Parasitic and Allergenic Products, Laboratory of Mucosal Pathogens and Cellular Immunology, 10903 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20832, USA.
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25
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Moghadam MT, Mojtahedi A, Salamy S, Shahbazi R, Satarzadeh N, Delavar M, Ashoobi MT. Phage therapy as a glimmer of hope in the fight against the recurrence or emergence of surgical site bacterial infections. Infection 2024; 52:385-402. [PMID: 38308075 DOI: 10.1007/s15010-024-02178-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Over the last decade, surgery rates have risen alarmingly, and surgical-site infections are expanding these concerns. In spite of advances in infection control practices, surgical infections continue to be a significant cause of death, prolonged hospitalization, and morbidity. As well as the presence of bacterial infections and their antibiotic resistance, biofilm formation is one of the challenges in the treatment of surgical wounds. METHODS This review article was based on published studies on inpatients and laboratory animals receiving phage therapy for surgical wounds, phage therapy for tissue and bone infections treated with surgery to prevent recurrence, antibiotic-resistant wound infections treated with phage therapy, and biofilm-involved surgical wounds treated with phage therapy which were searched without date restrictions. RESULTS It has been shown in this review article that phage therapy can be used to treat surgical-site infections in patients and animals, eliminate biofilms at the surgical site, prevent infection recurrence in wounds that have been operated on, and eradicate antibiotic-resistant infections in surgical wounds, including multi-drug resistance (MDR), extensively drug resistance (XDR), and pan-drug resistance (PDR). A cocktail of phages and antibiotics can also reduce surgical-site infections more effectively than phages alone. CONCLUSION In light of these encouraging results, clinical trials and research with phages will continue in the near future to treat surgical-site infections, biofilm removal, and antibiotic-resistant wounds, all of which could be used to prescribe phages as an alternative to antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Majid Taati Moghadam
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Ali Mojtahedi
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shakiba Salamy
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Razieh Shahbazi
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Naghmeh Satarzadeh
- Student Research Committee, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Majid Delavar
- Vice President of Health and Executive Vice President, Rey Health Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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26
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Dicks LMT, Vermeulen W. Bacteriophage-Host Interactions and the Therapeutic Potential of Bacteriophages. Viruses 2024; 16:478. [PMID: 38543843 PMCID: PMC10975011 DOI: 10.3390/v16030478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Healthcare faces a major problem with the increased emergence of antimicrobial resistance due to over-prescribing antibiotics. Bacteriophages may provide a solution to the treatment of bacterial infections given their specificity. Enzymes such as endolysins, exolysins, endopeptidases, endosialidases, and depolymerases produced by phages interact with bacterial surfaces, cell wall components, and exopolysaccharides, and may even destroy biofilms. Enzymatic cleavage of the host cell envelope components exposes specific receptors required for phage adhesion. Gram-positive bacteria are susceptible to phage infiltration through their peptidoglycan, cell wall teichoic acid (WTA), lipoteichoic acids (LTAs), and flagella. In Gram-negative bacteria, lipopolysaccharides (LPSs), pili, and capsules serve as targets. Defense mechanisms used by bacteria differ and include physical barriers (e.g., capsules) or endogenous mechanisms such as clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-associated protein (Cas) systems. Phage proteins stimulate immune responses against specific pathogens and improve antibiotic susceptibility. This review discusses the attachment of phages to bacterial cells, the penetration of bacterial cells, the use of phages in the treatment of bacterial infections, and the limitations of phage therapy. The therapeutic potential of phage-derived proteins and the impact that genomically engineered phages may have in the treatment of infections are summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leon M. T. Dicks
- Department of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa;
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27
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Needham P, Page RC, Yehl K. Phage-layer interferometry: a companion diagnostic for phage therapy and a bacterial testing platform. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6026. [PMID: 38472239 PMCID: PMC10933294 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-55776-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The continuing and rapid emergence of antibiotic resistance (AMR) calls for innovations in antimicrobial therapies. A promising, 're-emerging' approach is the application of bacteriophage viruses to selectively infect and kill pathogenic bacteria, referred to as phage therapy. In practice, phage therapy is personalized and requires companion diagnostics to identify efficacious phages, which are then formulated into a therapeutic cocktail. The predominant means for phage screening involves optical-based assays, but these methods cannot be carried out in complex media, such as colored solutions, inhomogeneous mixtures, or high-viscosity samples, which are often conditions encountered in vivo. Moreover, these assays cannot distinguish phage binding and lysis parameters, which are important for standardizing phage cocktail formulation. To address these challenges, we developed Phage-layer Interferometry (PLI) as a companion diagnostic. Herein, PLI is assessed as a quantitative phage screening method and prototyped as a bacterial detection platform. Importantly, PLI is amenable to automation and is functional in complex, opaque media, such as baby formula. Due to these newfound capabilities, we foresee immediate and broad impact of PLI for combating AMR and protecting against foodborne illnesses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Needham
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, 45056, USA
| | - Richard C Page
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, 45056, USA
| | - Kevin Yehl
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, 45056, USA.
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28
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Yang F, Labani-Motlagh A, Bohorquez JA, Moreira JD, Ansari D, Patel S, Spagnolo F, Florence J, Vankayalapati A, Sakai T, Sato O, Ikebe M, Vankayalapati R, Dennehy JJ, Samten B, Yi G. Bacteriophage therapy for the treatment of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections in humanized mice. Commun Biol 2024; 7:294. [PMID: 38461214 PMCID: PMC10924958 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06006-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/11/2024] Open
Abstract
The continuing emergence of new strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has renewed interest in phage therapy; however, there has been limited progress in applying phage therapy to multi-drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infections. In this study, we show that bacteriophage strains D29 and DS6A can efficiently lyse Mtb H37Rv in 7H10 agar plates. However, only phage DS6A efficiently kills H37Rv in liquid culture and in Mtb-infected human primary macrophages. We further show in subsequent experiments that, after the humanized mice were infected with aerosolized H37Rv, then treated with DS6A intravenously, the DS6A treated mice showed increased body weight and improved pulmonary function relative to control mice. Furthermore, DS6A reduces Mtb load in mouse organs with greater efficacy in the spleen. These results demonstrate the feasibility of developing phage therapy as an effective therapeutic against Mtb infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Yang
- Department of Medicine, The University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine, Tyler, TX, USA
- Center for Biomedical Research, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA
| | - Alireza Labani-Motlagh
- Department of Medicine, The University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine, Tyler, TX, USA
- Center for Biomedical Research, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack Meridian Health, Hackensack, NJ, USA
| | - Jose Alejandro Bohorquez
- Department of Medicine, The University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine, Tyler, TX, USA
- Center for Biomedical Research, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA
| | - Josimar Dornelas Moreira
- Center for Biomedical Research, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA
| | - Danish Ansari
- Department of Medicine, The University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine, Tyler, TX, USA
- Center for Biomedical Research, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA
| | - Sahil Patel
- Department of Medicine, The University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine, Tyler, TX, USA
- Center for Biomedical Research, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA
| | - Fabrizio Spagnolo
- Life Sciences Department, Long Island University Post, Brookville, NY, USA
| | - Jon Florence
- Center for Biomedical Research, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA
| | - Abhinav Vankayalapati
- Center for Biomedical Research, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA
| | - Tsuyoshi Sakai
- Center for Biomedical Research, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA
| | - Osamu Sato
- Center for Biomedical Research, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA
| | - Mitsuo Ikebe
- Center for Biomedical Research, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA
| | - Ramakrishna Vankayalapati
- Center for Biomedical Research, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA
| | - John J Dennehy
- Biology Department, Queens College of The City University of New York, Flushing, NY, USA.
- The Graduate Center of The City University of New York, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Buka Samten
- Center for Biomedical Research, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA.
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA.
| | - Guohua Yi
- Department of Medicine, The University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine, Tyler, TX, USA.
- Center for Biomedical Research, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA.
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA.
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29
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Whiteley LE, Whiteley M. Characterization of a new Pseudomonas aeruginosa Queuovirinae bacteriophage. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0371923. [PMID: 38345389 PMCID: PMC10913419 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03719-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The ESKAPEE pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common cause of chronic wound and cystic fibrosis lung infections, as well as acute burn and nosocomial infections. Many of these infections are recalcitrant to conventional antibiotic therapies due to both traditional antibiotic resistance mechanisms and antimicrobial tolerance. Recent successes with bacteriophage (phage) therapy to treat chronic human P. aeruginosa infections have led to a renewed interest in isolating and characterizing new P. aeruginosa phages. Here, we isolated and characterized a new lytic phage (termed PIP, pili-infecting phage) capable of infecting P. aeruginosa PA14. PIP is a tailed phage with an icosahedral head and flexible tail containing a genome that is 57,462 bp in length. Phylogenetic analysis reveals that PIP belongs to the subfamily Queuovirinae and genus Nipunavirus but is highly divergent in gene content from known Nipunaviruses. By isolating and characterizing a P. aeruginosa strain that spontaneously evolved resistance to PIP, we show that the receptor for PIP is Type IV pili. In summary, we isolated a new P. aeruginosa phage species with a unique genome, thus increasing the diversity of phages known to infect this important human pathogen.IMPORTANCEThe opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes both acute and chronic human infections. These infections are notoriously difficult to treat due to both antibiotic resistance and antibiotic tolerance. The increasing frequency of antibiotic failure in P. aeruginosa infections has led scientists to explore other treatment options, including bacteriophage (phage) therapy. To this end, there has been a significant effort to identify new Pseudomonas phages. Here, we isolated and characterized a bacteriophage (termed PIP, pili-infecting phage) that infects P. aeruginosa PA14. Examination of the PIP genome revealed that this phage represents a new species in the subclass Queuovirinae. The isolation and characterization of spontaneous PA14 mutants that are resistant to PIP infection revealed Type IV pili as the PIP receptor. Ultimately, this study characterizes a new species of Pseudomonas phage, thus enhancing the known diversity of phages that infect this important pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren E. Whiteley
- School of Biological Sciences, Center for Microbial Dynamics and Infection, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Emory-Children’s Cystic Fibrosis Center, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Marvin Whiteley
- School of Biological Sciences, Center for Microbial Dynamics and Infection, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Emory-Children’s Cystic Fibrosis Center, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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30
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Shanmugasundaram S, Nayak N, Puzhankara L, Kedlaya MN, Rajagopal A, Karmakar S. Bacteriophages: the dawn of a new era in periodontal microbiology? Crit Rev Microbiol 2024; 50:212-223. [PMID: 36883683 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2023.2182667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
The oral microbiome, populated by a diverse range of species, plays a critical role in the initiation and progression of periodontal disease. The most dominant yet little-discussed players in the microbiome, the bacteriophages, influence the health and disease of the host in various ways. They, not only contribute to periodontal health by preventing the colonization of pathogens and disrupting biofilms but also play a role in periodontal disease by upregulating the virulence of periodontal pathogens through the transfer of antibiotic resistance and virulence factors. Since bacteriophages selectively infect only bacterial cells, they have an enormous scope to be used as a therapeutic strategy; recently, phage therapy has been successfully used to treat antibiotic-resistant systemic infections. Their ability to disrupt biofilms widens the scope against periodontal pathogens and dental plaque biofilms in periodontitis. Future research focussing on the oral phageome and phage therapy's effectiveness and safety could pave way for new avenues in periodontal therapy. This review explores our current understanding of bacteriophages, their interactions in the oral microbiome, and their therapeutic potential in periodontal disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shashikiran Shanmugasundaram
- Department of Periodontology, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
| | - Namratha Nayak
- Department of Periodontology, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
| | - Lakshmi Puzhankara
- Department of Periodontology, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
| | - Madhurya N Kedlaya
- Department of Periodontology, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
| | - Anjale Rajagopal
- Department of Periodontology, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
| | - Shaswata Karmakar
- Department of Periodontology, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
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Murray TS, Stanley G, Koff JL. Novel Approaches to Multidrug-Resistant Infections in Cystic Fibrosis. Infect Dis Clin North Am 2024; 38:149-162. [PMID: 38280761 DOI: 10.1016/j.idc.2023.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2024]
Abstract
Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) often develop respiratory tract infections with pathogenic multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and a variety of gram-negative organisms that include Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Burkholderia sp., Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Achromobacter xylosoxidans, and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). Despite the introduction of new therapies to address underlying cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) dysfunction, MDRO infections remain a problem and novel antimicrobial interventions are still needed. Therapeutic approaches include improving the efficacy of existing drugs by adjusting the dose based on differences in CF patient pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics, the development of inhaled formulations to reduce systemic adverse events, and the use of newer beta-lactam/beta-lactamase combinations. Alternative innovative therapeutic approaches include the use of gallium and bacteriophages to treat MDRO pulmonary infections including those with extreme antibiotic resistance. However, additional clinical trials are required to determine the optimal dosing and efficacy of these different strategies and to identify patients with CF most likely to benefit from these new treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas S Murray
- Department of Pediatrics, Section Infectious Diseases and Global Health, Yale University School of Medicine, PO Box 208064, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520-8064, USA.
| | - Gail Stanley
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, PO Box 208057, 300 Cedar Street TAC-441 South, New Haven, CT 06520-8057, USA; Adult Cystic Fibrosis Program; Yale University Center for Phage Biology & Therapy.
| | - Jonathan L Koff
- Adult Cystic Fibrosis Program; Yale University Center for Phage Biology & Therapy; Department of Internal Medicine, Section Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, PO Box 208057, 300 Cedar Street TAC-455A South, New Haven, CT 06520-8057, USA.
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Golosova NN, Matveev AL, Tikunova NV, Khlusevich YA, Kozlova YN, Morozova VV, Babkin IV, Ushakova TA, Zhirakovskaya EV, Panina EA, Ryabchikova EI, Tikunov AY. Bacteriophage vB_SepP_134 and Endolysin LysSte_134_1 as Potential Staphylococcus-Biofilm-Removing Biological Agents. Viruses 2024; 16:385. [PMID: 38543751 PMCID: PMC10975630 DOI: 10.3390/v16030385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacteria of the genus Staphylococcus are significant challenge for medicine, as many species are resistant to multiple antibiotics and some are even to all of the antibiotics we use. One of the approaches to developing new therapeutics to treat staphylococcal infections is the use of bacteriophages specific to these bacteria or the lytic enzymes of such bacteriophages, which are capable of hydrolyzing the cell walls of these bacteria. In this study, a new bacteriophage vB_SepP_134 (St 134) specific to Staphylococcus epidermidis was described. This podophage, with a genome of 18,275 bp, belongs to the Andhravirus genus. St 134 was able to infect various strains of 12 of the 21 tested coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species and one clinical strain from the Staphylococcus aureus complex. The genes encoding endolysin (LysSte134_1) and tail tip lysin (LysSte134_2) were identified in the St 134 genome. Both enzymes were cloned and produced in Escherichia coli cells. The endolysin LysSte134_1 demonstrated catalytic activity against peptidoglycans isolated from S. aureus, S. epidermidis, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, and Staphylococcus warneri. LysSte134_1 was active against S. aureus and S. epidermidis planktonic cells and destroyed the biofilms formed by clinical strains of S. aureus and S. epidermidis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Artem Y. Tikunov
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia; (N.N.G.); (N.V.T.); (Y.A.K.); (Y.N.K.); (V.V.M.); (I.V.B.); (T.A.U.); (E.A.P.); (E.I.R.)
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Adeosun WB, Loots DT. Medicinal Plants against Viral Infections: A Review of Metabolomics Evidence for the Antiviral Properties and Potentials in Plant Sources. Viruses 2024; 16:218. [PMID: 38399995 PMCID: PMC10892737 DOI: 10.3390/v16020218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Most plants have developed unique mechanisms to cope with harsh environmental conditions to compensate for their lack of mobility. A key part of their coping mechanisms is the synthesis of secondary metabolites. In addition to their role in plants' defense against pathogens, they also possess therapeutic properties against diseases, and their use by humans predates written history. Viruses are a unique class of submicroscopic agents, incapable of independent existence outside a living host. Pathogenic viruses continue to pose a significant threat to global health, leading to innumerable fatalities on a yearly basis. The use of medicinal plants as a natural source of antiviral agents has been widely reported in literature in the past decades. Metabolomics is a powerful research tool for the identification of plant metabolites with antiviral potentials. It can be used to isolate compounds with antiviral capacities in plants and study the biosynthetic pathways involved in viral disease progression. This review discusses the use of medicinal plants as antiviral agents, with a special focus on the metabolomics evidence supporting their efficacy. Suggestions are made for the optimization of various metabolomics methods of characterizing the bioactive compounds in plants and subsequently understanding the mechanisms of their operation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wilson Bamise Adeosun
- Human Metabolomics, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Box 269, Potchefstroom 2531, South Africa;
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Gordon M, Ramirez P. Efficacy and Experience of Bacteriophages in Biofilm-Related Infections. Antibiotics (Basel) 2024; 13:125. [PMID: 38391511 PMCID: PMC10886175 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics13020125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacterial infection has always accompanied human beings, causing suffering and death while also contributing to the advancement of medical science. However, the treatment of infections has become more complex in recent times. The increasing resistance of bacterial strains to antibiotics has diminished the effectiveness of the therapeutic arsenal, making it less likely to find the appropriate empiric antibiotic option. Additionally, the development and persistence of bacterial biofilms have become more prevalent, attributed to the greater use of invasive devices that facilitate biofilm formation and the enhanced survival of chronic infection models where biofilm plays a crucial role. Bacteria within biofilms are less susceptible to antibiotics due to physical, chemical, and genetic factors. Bacteriophages, as biological weapons, can overcome both antimicrobial resistance and biofilm protection. In this review, we will analyze the scientific progress achieved in vitro to justify their clinical application. In the absence of scientific evidence, we will compile publications of clinical cases where phages have been used to treat infections related to biofilm. The scientific basis obtained in vitro and the success rate and safety observed in clinical practice should motivate the medical community to conduct clinical trials establishing a protocol for the proper use of bacteriophages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Gordon
- Critical Care Department, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico la Fe, Av. Vicente Abril Martorell 106, 46026 Valencia, Spain
| | - Paula Ramirez
- Critical Care Department, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico la Fe, Av. Vicente Abril Martorell 106, 46026 Valencia, Spain
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Yin C, Alam MZ, Fallon JT, Huang W. Advances in Development of Novel Therapeutic Strategies against Multi-Drug Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Antibiotics (Basel) 2024; 13:119. [PMID: 38391505 PMCID: PMC10885988 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics13020119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) with multi-drug resistance (MDR) is a major cause of serious healthcare-associated infections, leading to high morbidity and mortality. This opportunistic pathogen is responsible for various infectious diseases, such as those seen in cystic fibrosis, ventilator-associated pneumonia, urinary tract infection, otitis externa, and burn and wound injuries. Due to its relatively large genome, P. aeruginosa has great diversity and can use various molecular mechanisms for antimicrobial resistance. For example, outer membrane permeability can contribute to antimicrobial resistance and is determined by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and porin proteins. Recent findings on the regulatory interaction between peptidoglycan and LPS synthesis provide additional clues against pathogenic P. aeruginosa. This review focuses on recent advances in antimicrobial agents and inhibitors targeting LPS and porin proteins. In addition, we explore current and emerging treatment strategies for MDR P. aeruginosa, including phages, vaccines, nanoparticles, and their combinatorial therapies. Novel strategies and their corresponding therapeutic agents are urgently needed for combating MDR pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changhong Yin
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
| | - Md Zahidul Alam
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
| | - John T Fallon
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
| | - Weihua Huang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
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Chaudhary V, Kajla P, Lather D, Chaudhary N, Dangi P, Singh P, Pandiselvam R. Bacteriophages: a potential game changer in food processing industry. Crit Rev Biotechnol 2024:1-25. [PMID: 38228500 DOI: 10.1080/07388551.2023.2299768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
In the food industry, despite the widespread use of interventions such as preservatives and thermal and non-thermal processing technologies to improve food safety, incidences of foodborne disease continue to happen worldwide, prompting the search for alternative strategies. Bacteriophages, commonly known as phages, have emerged as a promising alternative for controlling pathogenic bacteria in food. This review emphasizes the potential applications of phages in biological sciences, food processing, and preservation, with a particular focus on their role as biocontrol agents for improving food quality and preservation. By shedding light on recent developments and future possibilities, this review highlights the significance of phages in the food industry. Additionally, it addresses crucial aspects such as regulatory status and safety concerns surrounding the use of bacteriophages. The inclusion of up-to-date literature further underscores the relevance of phage-based strategies in reducing foodborne pathogenic bacteria's presence in both food and the production environment. As we look ahead, new phage products are likely to be targeted against emerging foodborne pathogens. This will further advance the efficacy of approaches that are based on phages in maintaining the safety and security of food.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vandana Chaudhary
- Department of Dairy Technology, College of Dairy Science and Technology, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar, Haryana, India
| | - Priyanka Kajla
- Department of Food Technology, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, Hisar, Haryana, India
| | - Deepika Lather
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar, Haryana, India
| | - Nisha Chaudhary
- Department of Food Science and Technology, College of Agriculture, Agriculture University, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
| | - Priya Dangi
- Department of Food and Nutrition and Food Technology, Institute of Home Economics, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India
| | - Punit Singh
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Engineering and Technology, GLA University Mathura, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Ravi Pandiselvam
- Physiology, Biochemistry and Post-Harvest Technology Division, ICAR -Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasaragod, Kerala, India
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Romeyer Dherbey J, Bertels F. The untapped potential of phage model systems as therapeutic agents. Virus Evol 2024; 10:veae007. [PMID: 38361821 PMCID: PMC10868562 DOI: 10.1093/ve/veae007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
With the emergence of widespread antibiotic resistance, phages are an appealing alternative to antibiotics in the fight against multidrug-resistant bacteria. Over the past few years, many phages have been isolated from various environments to treat bacterial pathogens. While isolating novel phages for treatment has had some success for compassionate use, developing novel phages into a general therapeutic will require considerable time and financial resource investments. These investments may be less significant for well-established phage model systems. The knowledge acquired from decades of research on their structure, life cycle, and evolution ensures safe application and efficient handling. However, one major downside of the established phage model systems is their inability to infect pathogenic bacteria. This problem is not insurmountable; phage host range can be extended through genetic engineering or evolution experiments. In the future, breeding model phages to infect pathogens could provide a new avenue to develop phage therapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan Romeyer Dherbey
- Microbial Population Biology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, August-Thienemann-Straße 2, Plön, Schleswig-Holstein 24306, Germany
| | - Frederic Bertels
- Microbial Population Biology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, August-Thienemann-Straße 2, Plön, Schleswig-Holstein 24306, Germany
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38
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Aljabali AAA, Aljbaly MBM, Obeid MA, Shahcheraghi SH, Tambuwala MM. The Next Generation of Drug Delivery: Harnessing the Power of Bacteriophages. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2738:279-315. [PMID: 37966606 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3549-0_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
The use of biomaterials, such as bacteriophages, as drug delivery vehicles (DDVs) has gained increasing interest in recent years due to their potential to address the limitations of conventional drug delivery systems. Bacteriophages offer several advantages as drug carriers, such as high specificity for targeting bacterial cells, low toxicity, and the ability to be engineered to express specific proteins or peptides for enhanced targeting and drug delivery. In addition, bacteriophages have been shown to reduce the development of antibiotic resistance, which is a major concern in the field of antimicrobial therapy. Many initiatives have been taken to take up various payloads selectively and precisely by surface functionalization of the outside or interior of self-assembling viral protein capsids. Bacteriophages have emerged as a promising platform for the targeted delivery of therapeutic agents, including drugs, genes, and imaging agents. They possess several properties that make them attractive as drug delivery vehicles, including their ability to specifically target bacterial cells, their structural diversity, their ease of genetic manipulation, and their biocompatibility. Despite the potential advantages of using bacteriophages as drug carriers, several challenges and limitations need to be addressed. One of the main challenges is the limited host range of bacteriophages, which restricts their use to specific bacterial strains. However, this can also be considered as an advantage, as it allows for precise and targeted drug delivery to the desired bacterial cells. The use of biomaterials, including bacteriophages, as drug delivery vehicles has shown promising potential to address the limitations of conventional drug delivery systems. Further research is needed to fully understand the potential of these biomaterials and address the challenges and limitations associated with their use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alaa A A Aljabali
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan.
| | | | - Mohammad A Obeid
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Seyed Hossein Shahcheraghi
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Murtaza M Tambuwala
- Lincoln Medical School, Brayford Pool Campus, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, UK.
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Unnikrishnan VK, Sundaramoorthy NS, Nair VG, Ramaiah KB, Roy JS, Rajendran M, Srinath S, Kumar S, S PS, S SM, Nagarajan S. Genome analysis of triple phages that curtails MDR E. coli with ML based host receptor prediction and its evaluation. Sci Rep 2023; 13:23040. [PMID: 38155176 PMCID: PMC10754912 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49880-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Infections by multidrug resistant bacteria (MDR) are becoming increasingly difficult to treat and alternative approaches like phage therapy, which is unhindered by drug resistance, are urgently needed to tackle MDR bacterial infections. During phage therapy phage cocktails targeting different receptors are likely to be more effective than monophages. In the present study, phages targeting carbapenem resistant clinical isolate of E. coli U1007 was isolated from Ganges River (U1G), Cooum River (CR) and Hospital waste water (M). Capsid architecture discerned using TEM identified the phage families as Podoviridae for U1G, Myoviridae for CR and Siphoviridae for M phage. Genome sequencing showed the phage genomes varied in size U1G (73,275 bp) CR (45,236 bp) and M (45,294 bp). All three genomes lacked genes encoding tRNA sequence, antibiotic resistant or virulent genes. A machine learning (ML) based multi-class classification model using Random Forest, Logistic Regression, and Decision Tree were employed to predict the host receptor targeted by receptor binding protein of all 3 phages and the best performing algorithm Random Forest predicted LPS O antigen, LamB or OmpC for U1G; FhuA, OmpC for CR phage; and FhuA, LamB, TonB or OmpF for the M phage. OmpC was validated as receptor for U1G by physiological experiments. In vivo intramuscular infection study in zebrafish showed that cocktail of dual phages (U1G + M) along with colsitin resulted in a significant 3.5 log decline in cell counts. Our study highlights the potential of ML tool to predict host receptor and proves the utility of phage cocktail to restrict E. coli U1007 in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vineetha K Unnikrishnan
- Center for Research On Infectious Diseases (CRID), School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed University, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, 613401, India
- Antimicrobial Resistance Lab, ASK-I-312, School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed University, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Niranjana Sri Sundaramoorthy
- Center for Research On Infectious Diseases (CRID), School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed University, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, 613401, India
- Translational Health Sciences Technology Institute, Faridabad, India
| | - Veena G Nair
- Center for Research On Infectious Diseases (CRID), School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed University, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, 613401, India
- Antimicrobial Resistance Lab, ASK-I-312, School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed University, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Kavi Bharathi Ramaiah
- Center for Research On Infectious Diseases (CRID), School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed University, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, 613401, India
- Antimicrobial Resistance Lab, ASK-I-312, School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed University, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Jean Sophy Roy
- Center for Research On Infectious Diseases (CRID), School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed University, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, 613401, India
| | - Malarvizhi Rajendran
- Center for Research On Infectious Diseases (CRID), School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed University, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, 613401, India
| | - Sneha Srinath
- Department of Bioinformatics, School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed University, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, 613401, India
| | - Santhosh Kumar
- Department of Bioinformatics, School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed University, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, 613401, India
| | - Prakash Sankaran S
- Center for Research On Infectious Diseases (CRID), School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed University, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, 613401, India
| | - Suma Mohan S
- Department of Bioinformatics, School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed University, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, 613401, India.
| | - Saisubramanian Nagarajan
- Center for Research On Infectious Diseases (CRID), School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed University, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, 613401, India.
- Antimicrobial Resistance Lab, ASK-I-312, School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed University, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India.
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Chen B, Benavente LP, Chittò M, Wychowaniec JK, Post V, D'Este M, Constant C, Zeiter S, Feng W, Moreno MG, Trampuz A, Wagemans J, Onsea J, Richards RG, Lavigne R, Moriarty TF, Metsemakers WJ. Alginate microbeads and hydrogels delivering meropenem and bacteriophages to treat Pseudomonas aeruginosa fracture-related infections. J Control Release 2023; 364:159-173. [PMID: 37866403 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.10.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
Bacteriophage (phage) therapy has shown promise in treating fracture-related infection (FRI); however, questions remain regarding phage efficacy against biofilms, phage-antibiotic interaction, administration routes and dosing, and the development of phage resistance. The goal of this study was to develop a dual antibiotic-phage delivery system containing hydrogel and alginate microbeads loaded with a phage cocktail plus meropenem and evaluate efficacy against muti-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Two phages (FJK.R9-30 and MK.R3-15) displayed enhanced antibiotic activity against P. aeruginosa biofilms when tested in combination with meropenem. The antimicrobial activity of both antibiotic and phage was retained for eight days at 37 °C in dual phage and antibiotic loaded hydrogel with microbeads (PA-HM). In a mouse FRI model, phages were recovered from all tissues within all treatment groups receiving dual PA-HM. Moreover, animals that received the dual PA-HM either with or without systemic antibiotics had less incidence of phage resistance and less serum neutralization compared to phages in saline. The dual PA-HM could reduce bacterial load in soft tissue when combined with systemic antibiotics, although the infection was not eradicated. The use of alginate microbeads and injectable hydrogel for controlled release of phages and antibiotics, leads to the reduced development of phage resistance and lower exposure to the adaptive immune system, which highlights the translational potential of the dual PA-HM. However, further optimization of phage therapy and its delivery system is necessary to achieve higher bacterial killing activity in vivo in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baixing Chen
- Department of Trauma Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; AO Research Institute Davos, Davos, Switzerland
| | - Luis Ponce Benavente
- Center for Musculoskeletal Surgery Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Wenli Feng
- AO Research Institute Davos, Davos, Switzerland
| | - Mercedes González Moreno
- Center for Musculoskeletal Surgery Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Andrej Trampuz
- Center for Musculoskeletal Surgery Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Jolien Onsea
- Department of Trauma Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Rob Lavigne
- Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Willem-Jan Metsemakers
- Department of Trauma Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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41
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Dharmaraj T, Kratochvil MJ, Pourtois JD, Chen Q, Hajfathalian M, Hargil A, Lin YH, Evans Z, Oromí-Bosch A, Berry JD, McBride R, Haddock NL, Holman DR, van Belleghem JD, Chang TH, Barr JJ, Lavigne R, Heilshorn SC, Blankenberg FG, Bollyky PL. Rapid assessment of changes in phage bioactivity using dynamic light scattering. PNAS NEXUS 2023; 2:pgad406. [PMID: 38111822 PMCID: PMC10726995 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgad406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
Extensive efforts are underway to develop bacteriophages as therapies against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. However, these efforts are confounded by the instability of phage preparations and a lack of suitable tools to assess active phage concentrations over time. In this study, we use dynamic light scattering (DLS) to measure changes in phage physical state in response to environmental factors and time, finding that phages tend to decay and form aggregates and that the degree of aggregation can be used to predict phage bioactivity. We then use DLS to optimize phage storage conditions for phages from human clinical trials, predict bioactivity in 50-y-old archival stocks, and evaluate phage samples for use in a phage therapy/wound infection model. We also provide a web application (Phage-Estimator of Lytic Function) to facilitate DLS studies of phages. We conclude that DLS provides a rapid, convenient, and nondestructive tool for quality control of phage preparations in academic and commercial settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tejas Dharmaraj
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Beckman Center for Molecular and Genetic Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Michael J Kratochvil
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Julie D Pourtois
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
| | - Qingquan Chen
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Beckman Center for Molecular and Genetic Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Maryam Hajfathalian
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Beckman Center for Molecular and Genetic Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Aviv Hargil
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Beckman Center for Molecular and Genetic Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Yung-Hao Lin
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Zoe Evans
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Beckman Center for Molecular and Genetic Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | | | - Joel D Berry
- Felix Biotechnology, South SanFrancisco, CA 94080, USA
| | | | - Naomi L Haddock
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Beckman Center for Molecular and Genetic Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Derek R Holman
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Jonas D van Belleghem
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Beckman Center for Molecular and Genetic Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Tony H Chang
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Beckman Center for Molecular and Genetic Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Jeremy J Barr
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Rob Lavigne
- Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Leuven 3001, Belgium
| | - Sarah C Heilshorn
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Francis G Blankenberg
- Division of Pediatric Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Department of Radiology, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Paul L Bollyky
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Beckman Center for Molecular and Genetic Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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42
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Blumstein DT, Johnson NA, Katz ND, Kharpatin S, Ortiz‐Ross X, Parra E, Reshke A. Biological lessons for strategic resistance management. Evol Appl 2023; 16:1861-1871. [PMID: 38143901 PMCID: PMC10739074 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Biological resistance to pesticides, vaccines, antibiotics, and chemotherapies creates huge costs to society, including extensive morbidity and mortality. We simultaneously face costly resistance to social changes, such as those required to resolve human-wildlife conflicts and conserve biodiversity and the biosphere. Viewing resistance as a force that impedes change from one state to another, we suggest that an analysis of biological resistance can provide unique and potentially testable insights into understanding resistance to social changes. We review key insights from managing biological resistance and develop a framework that identifies seven strategies to overcome resistance. We apply this framework to consider how it might be used to understand social resistance and generate potentially novel hypotheses that may be useful to both enhance the development of strategies to manage resistance and modulate change in socio-ecological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel T. Blumstein
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of California Los AngelesLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Norman A. Johnson
- Department of BiologyUniversity of MassachusettsAmherstMassachusettsUSA
| | - Nurit D. Katz
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of California Los AngelesLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Samuel Kharpatin
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of California Los AngelesLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Xochitl Ortiz‐Ross
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of California Los AngelesLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Eliseo Parra
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of California Los AngelesLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Amanda Reshke
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of California Los AngelesLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
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43
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Alqahtani A. Bacteriophage treatment as an alternative therapy for multidrug-resistant bacteria. Saudi Med J 2023; 44:1222-1231. [PMID: 38016738 PMCID: PMC10712800 DOI: 10.15537/smj.2023.44.12.20230366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria constitute one of the most serious global health threats. The increasing incidence rate of bacterial infections caused by MDR strains and the decrease in the number of newly developed antibiotics have prompted the scientific community to search for alternatives. One such alternative is the use of bacteriophages. In this review, we discuss the most critical MDR organisms, including Acinetobacter baumanni, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus The efficacy of phage therapy against MDR bacteria is also discussed. We included studies from the last 10 years that examined the efficacy of phage therapy against MDR pathogens. In addition, this review highlights the effect of bacteriophages against bacterial biofilms. The existing knowledge indicates that phage therapy is a potential therapeutic strategy against MDR bacteria. However, the adverse effects of phage therapy, such as toxicity, and the emergence of phage resistance have not yet been resolved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdulaziz Alqahtani
- From the Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
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44
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Simpson EA, MacLeod CS, Stacey HJ, Nagy J, Jones JD. The Safety and Efficacy of Phage Therapy for Infections in Cardiac and Peripheral Vascular Surgery: A Systematic Review. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:1684. [PMID: 38136718 PMCID: PMC10740750 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12121684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
New approaches to managing infections in cardiac and peripheral vascular surgery are required to reduce costs to patients and healthcare providers. Bacteriophage (phage) therapy is a promising antimicrobial approach that has been recommended for consideration in antibiotic refractory cases. We systematically reviewed the clinical evidence for phage therapy in vascular surgery to support the unlicensed use of phage therapy and inform future research. Three electronic databases were searched for articles that reported primary data about human phage therapy for infections in cardiac or peripheral vascular surgery. Fourteen reports were eligible for inclusion, representing 40 patients, among which an estimated 70.3% of patients (n = 26/37) achieved clinical resolution. A further 10.8% (n = 4/37) of patients showed improvement and 18.9% (n = 7/37) showed no improvement. Six of the twelve reports that commented on the safety of phage therapy did not report adverse effects. No adverse effects documented in the remaining six reports were directly linked to phages but reflected the presence of manufacturing contaminants or release of bacterial debris following bacterial lysis. The reports identified by this review suggest that appropriately purified phages represent a safe and efficacious treatment option for infections in cardiac and peripheral vascular surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily A Simpson
- Medical Microbiology, Ninewells Hospital, NHS Tayside, Dundee DD2 1SG, UK
| | - Caitlin S MacLeod
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Ninewells Hospital, NHS Tayside, Dundee DD2 1SG, UK
- Division of Systems Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee DD2 1SG, UK
| | - Helen J Stacey
- Public Health, Kings Cross Hospital, Clepington Road, NHS Tayside, Dundee DD3 8EA, UK
| | - John Nagy
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Ninewells Hospital, NHS Tayside, Dundee DD2 1SG, UK
| | - Joshua D Jones
- Medical Microbiology, Ninewells Hospital, NHS Tayside, Dundee DD2 1SG, UK
- Infection Medicine, Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Chancellor's Building, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, UK
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45
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Pirnay JP, Verbeken G. Magistral Phage Preparations: Is This the Model for Everyone? Clin Infect Dis 2023; 77:S360-S369. [PMID: 37932120 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciad481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Phage therapy is increasingly put forward as a promising additional tool to help curb the global antimicrobial resistance crisis. However, industrially manufactured phage medicinal products are currently not available on the European Union and United States markets. In addition, it is expected that the business purpose-driven phage products that are supposed to be marketed in the future would mainly target commercially viable bacterial species and clinical indications, using fixed phage cocktails. hospitals or phage therapy centers aiming to help all patients with difficult-to-treat infections urgently need adequate phage preparations. We believe that national solutions based on the magistral preparation of personalized (preadapted) phage products by hospital and academic facilities could bring an immediate solution and could complement future industrially manufactured products. Moreover, these unlicensed phage preparations are presumed to be more efficient and to elicit less bacterial phage resistance issues than fixed phage cocktails, claims that need to be scientifically substantiated as soon as possible. Just like Belgium, other (European) countries could develop a magistral phage preparation framework that would exist next to the conventional medicinal product development and licensing pathways. However, it is important that the current producers of personalized phage products are provided with pragmatic quality and safety assurance requirements, which are preferably standardized (at least at the European level), and are tiered based on benefit-risk assessments at the individual patient level. Pro bono phage therapy providers should be supported and not stopped by the imposition of industry standards such as Good Manufacturing Practice requirements. Keywords: antimicrobial resistance; antibiotic resistance; bacterial infection; bacteriophage therapy; magistral preparation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Paul Pirnay
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Technology, Queen Astrid Military Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
- European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) Study Group for Non-traditional Antibacterial Therapy (ESGNTA), Basel, Switzerland
| | - Gilbert Verbeken
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Technology, Queen Astrid Military Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
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46
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Miele L, Evans RML, Cunniffe NJ, Torres-Barceló C, Bevacqua D. Evolutionary Epidemiology Consequences of Trait-Dependent Control of Heterogeneous Parasites. Am Nat 2023; 202:E130-E146. [PMID: 37963120 DOI: 10.1086/726062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
AbstractDisease control can induce both demographic and evolutionary responses in host-parasite systems. Foreseeing the outcome of control therefore requires knowledge of the eco-evolutionary feedback between control and system. Previous work has assumed that control strategies have a homogeneous effect on the parasite population. However, this is not true when control targets those traits that confer to the parasite heterogeneous levels of resistance, which can additionally be related to other key parasite traits through evolutionary trade-offs. In this work, we develop a minimal model coupling epidemiological and evolutionary dynamics to explore possible trait-dependent effects of control strategies. In particular, we consider a parasite expressing continuous levels of a trait-determining resource exploitation and a control treatment that can be either positively or negatively correlated with that trait. We demonstrate the potential of trait-dependent control by considering that the decision maker may want to minimize both the damage caused by the disease and the use of treatment, due to possible environmental or economic costs. We identify efficient strategies showing that the optimal type of treatment depends on the amount applied. Our results pave the way for the study of control strategies based on evolutionary constraints, such as collateral sensitivity and resistance costs, which are receiving increasing attention for both public health and agricultural purposes.
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47
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Mi Y, He Y, Mi J, Huang Y, Fan H, Song L, An X, Xu S, Li M, Tong Y. Genetic and Phenotypic Analysis of Phage-Resistant Mutant Fitness Triggered by Phage-Host Interactions. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15594. [PMID: 37958578 PMCID: PMC10648725 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242115594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of phage-resistant bacterial strains is one of the biggest challenges for phage therapy. However, the emerging phage-resistant bacteria are often accompanied by adaptive trade-offs, which supports a therapeutic strategy called "phage steering". The key to phage steering is to guide the bacterial population toward an evolutionary direction that is favorable for treatment. Thus, it is important to systematically investigate the impacts of phages targeting different bacterial receptors on the fitness of the bacterial population. Herein, we employed 20 different phages to impose strong evolutionary pressure on the host Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 and examined the genetic and phenotypic responses of their phage-resistant mutants. Among these strains with impaired adsorptions, four types of mutations associated with bacterial receptors were identified, namely, lipopolysaccharides (LPSs), type IV pili (T4Ps), outer membrane proteins (OMPs), and exopolysaccharides (EPSs). PAO1, responding to LPS- and EPS-dependent phage infections, mostly showed significant growth impairment and virulence attenuation. Most mutants with T4P-related mutations exhibited a significant decrease in motility and biofilm formation ability, while the mutants with OMP-related mutations required the lowest fitness cost out of the bacterial populations. Apart from fitness costs, PAO1 strains might lose their resistance to antibiotics when counteracting with phages, such as the presence of large-fragment mutants in this study, which may inspire the usage of phage-antibiotic combination strategies. This work provides methods that leverage the merits of phage resistance relative to obtaining therapeutically beneficial outcomes with respect to phage-steering strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanze Mi
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China; (Y.M.); (Y.H.); (J.M.); (Y.H.); (H.F.); (L.S.); (X.A.); (S.X.)
| | - Yile He
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China; (Y.M.); (Y.H.); (J.M.); (Y.H.); (H.F.); (L.S.); (X.A.); (S.X.)
| | - Jinhui Mi
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China; (Y.M.); (Y.H.); (J.M.); (Y.H.); (H.F.); (L.S.); (X.A.); (S.X.)
| | - Yunfei Huang
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China; (Y.M.); (Y.H.); (J.M.); (Y.H.); (H.F.); (L.S.); (X.A.); (S.X.)
| | - Huahao Fan
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China; (Y.M.); (Y.H.); (J.M.); (Y.H.); (H.F.); (L.S.); (X.A.); (S.X.)
| | - Lihua Song
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China; (Y.M.); (Y.H.); (J.M.); (Y.H.); (H.F.); (L.S.); (X.A.); (S.X.)
| | - Xiaoping An
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China; (Y.M.); (Y.H.); (J.M.); (Y.H.); (H.F.); (L.S.); (X.A.); (S.X.)
| | - Shan Xu
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China; (Y.M.); (Y.H.); (J.M.); (Y.H.); (H.F.); (L.S.); (X.A.); (S.X.)
| | - Mengzhe Li
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China; (Y.M.); (Y.H.); (J.M.); (Y.H.); (H.F.); (L.S.); (X.A.); (S.X.)
| | - Yigang Tong
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China; (Y.M.); (Y.H.); (J.M.); (Y.H.); (H.F.); (L.S.); (X.A.); (S.X.)
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering (BAIC-SM), Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
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48
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Fujiki J, Nakamura K, Nakamura T, Iwano H. Fitness Trade-Offs between Phage and Antibiotic Sensitivity in Phage-Resistant Variants: Molecular Action and Insights into Clinical Applications for Phage Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15628. [PMID: 37958612 PMCID: PMC10650657 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242115628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent decades, phage therapy has been overshadowed by the widespread use of antibiotics in Western countries. However, it has been revitalized as a powerful approach due to the increasing prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. Although bacterial resistance to phages has been reported in clinical cases, recent studies on the fitness trade-offs between phage and antibiotic resistance have revealed new avenues in the field of phage therapy. This strategy aims to restore the antibiotic susceptibility of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, even if phage-resistant variants develop. Here, we summarize the basic virological properties of phages and their applications within the context of antimicrobial resistance. In addition, we review the occurrence of phage resistance in clinical cases, and examine fitness trade-offs between phage and antibiotic sensitivity, exploring the potential of an evolutionary fitness cost as a countermeasure against phage resistance in therapy. Finally, we discuss future strategies and directions for phage-based therapy from the aspect of fitness trade-offs. This approach is expected to provide robust options when combined with antibiotics in this era of phage 're'-discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jumpei Fujiki
- Laboratory of Veterinary Biochemistry, School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University, Ebetsu 069-8501, Japan
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Keisuke Nakamura
- Laboratory of Veterinary Biochemistry, School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University, Ebetsu 069-8501, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Nakamura
- Laboratory of Veterinary Biochemistry, School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University, Ebetsu 069-8501, Japan
- Phage Therapy Institute, Waseda University, Tokyo 169-8050, Japan
- Research Center for Drug and Vaccine Development, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo 208-0011, Japan
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Sagamihara 252-5201, Japan
| | - Hidetomo Iwano
- Laboratory of Veterinary Biochemistry, School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University, Ebetsu 069-8501, Japan
- Phage Therapy Institute, Waseda University, Tokyo 169-8050, Japan
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49
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Karn SL, Gangwar M, Kumar R, Bhartiya SK, Nath G. Phage therapy: a revolutionary shift in the management of bacterial infections, pioneering new horizons in clinical practice, and reimagining the arsenal against microbial pathogens. Front Med (Lausanne) 2023; 10:1209782. [PMID: 37928478 PMCID: PMC10620811 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1209782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The recent approval of experimental phage therapies by the FDA and other regulatory bodies with expanded access in cases in the United States and other nations caught the attention of the media and the general public, generating enthusiasm for phage therapy. It started to alter the situation so that more medical professionals are willing to use phage therapies with conventional antibiotics. However, more study is required to fully comprehend phage therapy's potential advantages and restrictions, which is still a relatively new field in medicine. It shows promise, nevertheless, as a secure and prosperous substitute for antibiotics when treating bacterial illnesses in animals and humans. Because of their uniqueness, phage disinfection is excellent for ready-to-eat (RTE) foods like milk, vegetables, and meat products. The traditional farm-to-fork method can be used throughout the food chain to employ bacteriophages to prevent food infections at all production stages. Phage therapy improves clinical outcomes in animal models and lowers bacterial burdens in numerous preclinical investigations. The potential of phage resistance and the need to make sure that enough phages are delivered to the infection site are obstacles to employing phages in vivo. However, according to preclinical studies, phages appear to be a promising alternative to antibiotics for treating bacterial infections in vivo. Phage therapy used with compassion (a profound understanding of and empathy for another's suffering) has recently grown with many case reports of supposedly treated patients and clinical trials. This review summarizes the knowledge on the uses of phages in various fields, such as the food industry, preclinical research, and clinical settings. It also includes a list of FDA-approved bacteriophage-based products, commercial phage products, and a global list of companies that use phages for therapeutic purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subhash Lal Karn
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Mayank Gangwar
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Rajesh Kumar
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Satyanam Kumar Bhartiya
- Department of General Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Gopal Nath
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
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50
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Qu Q, Chen T, He P, Geng H, Zeng P, Luan G. Isolation and characterization of a novel lytic bacteriophage vB_Efm_LG62 infecting Enterococcus faecium. Virus Genes 2023; 59:763-774. [PMID: 37422898 DOI: 10.1007/s11262-023-02016-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Enterococcus faecium has been classified as a "high priority" pathogen by the World Health Organization. Enterococcus faecium has rapidly evolved as a global nosocomial pathogen with adaptation to the nosocomial environment and the accumulation of resistance to multiple antibiotics. Phage therapy is considered a promising strategy against difficult-to-treat infections and antimicrobial resistance. In this study, we isolated and characterized a novel virulent bacteriophage, vB_Efm_LG62, that specifically infects multidrug-resistant E. faecium. Morphological observations suggested that the phage has siphovirus morphology, with an optimal multiplicity of infection of 0.001. One-step growth tests revealed that its latent growth was at 20 min, with a burst size of 101 PFU/cell. Phage vB_Efm_LG62 was verified to have a double-stranded genome of 42,236 bp (35.21% GC content), containing 66 predicted coding sequences as determined by whole genomic sequencing. No genes were predicted to have functions associated with virulence factors or antibiotic resistance, indicating that the phage vB_Efm_LG62 has good therapeutic potential. Our isolation and characterization of this highly efficient phage aids in expanding our knowledge of E. faecium-targeting phages, and provides additional options for phage cocktail therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianyu Qu
- West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Tao Chen
- Medical Laboratory, Xindu District People's Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, China
| | - Penggang He
- West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Huaixin Geng
- Non-Coding RNA and Drug Discovery Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Peibin Zeng
- West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
| | - Guangxin Luan
- Non-Coding RNA and Drug Discovery Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China.
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