Prophylactic Delivery of a Bacteriophage Cocktail in Feed Significantly Reduces Salmonella Colonization in Pigs

Bacteriophage therapy reduces Staphylococcus aureus in a porcine and human ex vivo burn wound infection model

Burn wounds are a major burden, with high mortality rates due to infections. Staphylococcus aureus is a major causative agent of burn wound infections, which can be difficult to treat because of antibiotic resistance and biofilm formation. An alternative to antibiotics is the use of bacteriophages, viruses that infect and kill bacteria. We investigated the efficacy of bacteriophage therapy for burn wound infections, in both a porcine and a newly developed human ex vivo skin model. In both models, the efficacy of a reference antibiotic treatment (fusidic acid) and bacteriophage treatment was determined for a single treatment, successive treatment, and prophylaxis. Both models showed a reduction in bacterial load after a single bacteriophage treatment. Increasing the frequency of bacteriophage treatments increased bacteriophage efficacy in the human ex vivo skin model, but not in the porcine model. In both models, prophylaxis with bacteriophages increased treatment efficacy. In all cases, bacteriophage treatment outperformed fusidic acid treatment. Both models allowed investigation of bacteriophage-bacteria dynamics in burn wounds. Overall, bacteriophage treatment outperformed antibiotic control underlining the potential of bacteriophage therapy for the treatment of burn wound infections, especially when used prophylactically.

Advances and optimization strategies in bacteriophage therapy for treating inflammatory bowel disease

In the advancement of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) treatment, existing therapeutic methods exhibit limitations; they do not offer a complete cure for IBD and can trigger adverse side effects. Consequently, the exploration of novel therapies and multifaceted treatment strategies provides patients with a broader range of options. Within the framework of IBD, gut microbiota plays a pivotal role in disease onset through diverse mechanisms. Bacteriophages, as natural microbial regulators, demonstrate remarkable specificity by accurately identifying and eliminating specific pathogens, thus holding therapeutic promise. Although clinical trials have affirmed the safety of phage therapy, its efficacy is prone to external influences during storage and transport, which may affect its infectivity and regulatory roles within the microbiota. Improving the stability and precise dosage control of bacteriophages-ensuring robustness in storage and transport, consistent dosing, and targeted delivery to infection sites-is crucial. This review thoroughly explores the latest developments in IBD treatment and its inherent challenges, focusing on the interaction between the microbiota and bacteriophages. It highlights bacteriophages' potential as microbiome modulators in IBD treatment, offering detailed insights into research on bacteriophage encapsulation and targeted delivery mechanisms. Particular attention is paid to the functionality of various carrier systems, especially regarding their protective properties and ability for colon-specific delivery. This review aims to provide a theoretical foundation for using bacteriophages as microbiome modulators in IBD treatment, paving the way for enhanced regulation of the intestinal microbiota.

Broad host range phages target global Clostridium perfringens bacterial strains and clear infection in five-strain model systems

Clostridium perfringens is a prevalent bacterial pathogen in poultry, and due to the spread of antimicrobial resistance, alternative treatments are needed to prevent and treat infection. Bacteriophages (phages), viruses that kill bacteria, offer a viable option and can be used therapeutically to treat C. perfringens infections. The aim of this study was to isolate phages against C. perfringens strains currently circulating on farms across the world and establish their virulence and development potential using host range screening, virulence assays, and larva infection studies. We isolated 32 phages of which 19 lysed 80%-92% of our global C. perfringens poultry strain collection (n = 97). The virulence of these individual phages and 32 different phage combinations was quantified in liquid culture at multiple doses. We then developed a multi-strain C. perfringens larva infection model, to mimic an effective poultry model used by the industry. We tested the efficacy of 16/32 phage cocktails in the larva model. From this, we identified that our phage cocktail consisting of phages CPLM2, CPLM15, and CPLS41 was the most effective at reducing C. perfringens colonization in infected larvae when administered before bacterial challenge. These data suggest that phages do have significant potential to prevent and treat C. perfringens infection in poultry.

IMPORTANCE

Clostridium perfringens causes foodborne illness worldwide, and 95% of human infections are linked to the consumption of contaminated meat, including chicken products. In poultry, C. perfringens infection causes necrotic enteritis, and associated mortality rates can be up to 50%. However, treating infections is difficult as the bacterium is becoming antibiotic-resistant. Furthermore, the poultry industry is striving toward reduced antibiotic usage. Bacteriophages (phages) offer a promising alternative, and to progress this approach, robust suitable phages and laboratory models that mimic C. perfringens infections in poultry are required. In our study, we isolated phages targeting C. perfringens and found that many lyse C. perfringens strains isolated from chickens worldwide. Consistent with other published studies, in the model systems we assayed here, when some phages were combined as cocktails, the infection was cleared most effectively compared to individual phage use.

Bacteriophage Therapy in Companion and Farm Animals

Bacteriophages, which are viruses with restricted tropism for bacteria, have been employed for over a century as antimicrobial agents; they have been largely abandoned in Western countries but are constantly used in Eastern European countries with the advent of antibiotics. In recent decades, the growing spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria, which pose a serious threat to worldwide public health, imposed an urgent demand for alternative therapeutic approaches to antibiotics in animal and human fields. Based on this requirement, numerous studies have been published on developing and testing bacteriophage-based therapy. Overall, the literature largely supports the potential of this perspective but also highlights the need for additional research as the current standards are inadequate to receive approval from regulatory authorities. This review aims to update and critically revise the current knowledge on the application of bacteriophages to treat bacterial-derived infectious diseases in animals in order to provide topical perspectives and innovative advances.

Collateral sensitivity increases the efficacy of a rationally designed bacteriophage combination to control Salmonella enterica

The ability of virulent bacteriophages to lyse bacteria influences bacterial evolution, fitness, and population structure. Knowledge of both host susceptibility and resistance factors is crucial for the successful application of bacteriophages as biological control agents in clinical therapy, food processing, and agriculture. In this study, we isolated 12 bacteriophages termed SPLA phage which infect the foodborne pathogen Salmonella enterica. To determine phage host range, a diverse collection of Enterobacteriaceae and Salmonella enterica was used and genes involved in infection by six SPLA phages were identified using Salmonella Typhimurium strain ST4/74. Candidate host receptors included lipopolysaccharide (LPS), cellulose, and BtuB. Lipopolysaccharide was identified as a susceptibility factor for phage SPLA1a and mutations in LPS biosynthesis genes spontaneously emerged during culture with S. Typhimurium. Conversely, LPS was a resistance factor for phage SPLA5b which suggested that emergence of LPS mutations in culture with SPLA1a represented collateral sensitivity to SPLA5b. We show that bacteria-phage co-culture with SPLA1a and SPLA5b was more successful in limiting the emergence of phage resistance compared to single phage co-culture. Identification of host susceptibility and resistance genes and understanding infection dynamics are critical steps in the rationale design of phage cocktails against specific bacterial pathogens.IMPORTANCEAs antibiotic resistance continues to emerge in bacterial pathogens, bacterial viruses (phage) represent a potential alternative or adjunct to antibiotics. One challenge for their implementation is the predisposition of bacteria to rapidly acquire resistance to phages. We describe a functional genomics approach to identify mechanisms of susceptibility and resistance for newly isolated phages that infect and lyse Salmonella enterica and use this information to identify phage combinations that exploit collateral sensitivity, thus increasing efficacy. Collateral sensitivity is a phenomenon where resistance to one class of antibiotics increases sensitivity to a second class of antibiotics. We report a functional genomics approach to rationally design a phage combination with a collateral sensitivity dynamic which resulted in increased efficacy. Considering such evolutionary trade-offs has the potential to manipulate the outcome of phage therapy in favor of resolving infection without selecting for escape mutants and is applicable to other virus-host interactions.

Oral phages prophylaxis against mixed Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella Typhimurium infections in weaned piglets

Escherichia coli and Salmonella Typhimurium are the main pathogens of diarrhea in weaned piglets. The prevention of bacterial diarrhea in weaned piglets by phage is rarely reported. We conducted this study to evaluate the preventive effect of phages on mixed Escherichia coli and Salmonella Typhimurium infections in weaned piglets. A novel phage named NJ12 was isolated by using Salmonella Typhimurium SM022 as host bacteria and characterized by electron microscopy, genomic analysis and in vitro bacteriostatic activity. Phage NJ12 and a previously reported phage EP01 were microencapsulated with sodium alginate to make phage cocktail. Microencapsulated phage cocktail and PBS (Phosphate buffer solution) were used to piglets the phage and phage-free group through oral administration before bacterial infection 2 h, respectively. Piglets of the phage and phage-free group were consumed with feed contaminated with 6 mL (108CFU/mL) Escherichia coli O157:H7 GN07 (GXEC-N07) and 6 mL (108CFU/mL) SM022 every day for seven consecutive days. The results showed that piglets in the phage-free group had more severe diarrhea, larger decreased average weight gain and higher levels of neutrophils compared with piglets in phage group. Meanwhile, piglets in the phage-free group had higher load of SM022 and GN07 in jejunal tissue and more severe intestinal damage compared with piglets in group phage in vivo. In addition, oral administration phage can significant decreased the relative abundance of Enterobacteriaceae but hardly repaired the changes of diversity and composition of gut microbiota caused by the mixed infection of SM022 and GN07. This implies that phage used as a feed additive have a marvelous preventive effect on bacterial diarrhea during weaning of piglets.

The use of plant extracts and bacteriophages as an alternative therapy approach in combatting bacterial infections: the study of lytic phages and Stevia rebaudiana

Introduction

In the light of the problem of antibiotic resistance, the use of combined alternative therapies in combatting bacteria-related disorders has gained popularity. Bacteriophages are one element implemented in new combination therapy. Stevia rebaudiana is known to have antimicrobial activity and regarded as potentially having a synergistic effect with bacteriophages. Therefore, possible interactions of lytic bacteriophages (MS2, T4 and Phi6) with acetone and methanol S. rebaudiana extracts (SRa and SRm) in the bacterial environment were examined.

Material and Methods

The interactions were tested using a microdilution method, phage-extract co-incubation assay, static interaction (synography) and dynamic growth profile experiments in a bioreactor.

Results

The interactions of the tested factors in a static environment differed from those in a dynamic environment. Dynamic conditions altered the effect of the extracts in a concentration-dependent manner. How different the effect of the SRa extract was to that of the SRm extract on bacterial growth in a dynamic environment depended on the species of the phage and bacterial host. The greatest differences were observed for E. coli strains and their phages, whereas Pseudomonas syringae and the Phi6 phage reacted very similarly to both extracts. Differences also emerged for the same extract in different E. coli strains and their phages.

Conclusion

Every extract type should be tested on a case-by-case basis and experiment outcomes should not be generalised before gathering data. Moreover, many varied experiments should be performed, especially when examining such multifactorial mixtures. The tested mixtures could potentially be used in multidrug-resistant bacterial infection treatments.

The Biotechnological Application of Bacteriophages: What to Do and Where to Go in the Middle of the Post-Antibiotic Era

Amid the escalating challenges of antibiotic resistance, bacterial infections have emerged as a global threat. Bacteriophages (phages), viral entities capable of selectively infecting bacteria, are gaining momentum as promising alternatives to traditional antibiotics. Their distinctive attributes, including host specificity, inherent self-amplification, and potential synergy with antibiotics, render them compelling candidates. Phage engineering, a burgeoning discipline, involves the strategic modification of bacteriophages to enhance their therapeutic potential and broaden their applications. The integration of CRISPR-Cas systems facilitates precise genetic modifications, enabling phages to serve as carriers of functional genes/proteins, thereby enhancing diagnostics, drug delivery, and therapy. Phage engineering holds promise in transforming precision medicine, addressing antibiotic resistance, and advancing diverse applications. Emphasizing the profound therapeutic potential of phages, this review underscores their pivotal role in combatting bacterial diseases and highlights their significance in the post-antibiotic era.

Isolation and Characterization of Three Pseudomonas aeruginosa Viruses with Therapeutic Potential

As one of the most common pathogens of opportunistic and hospital-acquired infections, Pseudomonas aeruginosa is associated with resistance to diverse antibiotics, which represents a significant challenge to current treatment modalities. Phage therapy is considered a promising alternative to conventional antimicrobials. The characterization and isolation of new bacteriophages and the concurrent evaluation of their therapeutic potential are fundamental for phage therapy. In this study, we employed an enrichment method and a double-layer agar overlay to isolate bacteriophages that infect P. aeruginosa strains PAO1 and PA14. Three phages (named PA_LZ01, PA_LZ02, and PA_LZ03) were isolated and showed icosahedral heads and contractile tails. Following full-genome sequencing, we found that phage PA_LZ01 contained a genome of 65,367 bp in size and harbored 90 predicted open reading frames (ORFs), phage PA_LZ02 contained a genome of 57,243 bp in size and harbored 75 predicted ORFs, and phage PA_LZ03 contained a genome of 57,367 bp in size and carried 77 predicted ORFs. Further comparative analysis showed that phage PA_LZ01 belonged to the genus Pbunavirus genus, phage PA_LZ02 belonged to the genus Pamexvirus, and phage PA_LZ03 belonged to the family Mesyanzhinovviridae. Next, we demonstrated that these phages were rather stable at different temperatures and pHs. One-step growth curves showed that the burst size of PA_LZ01 was 15 PFU/infected cell, and that of PA_LZ02 was 50 PFU/infected cell, while the titer of PA_LZ03 was not elevated. Similarly, the biofilm clearance capacities of PA_LZ01 and PA_LZ02 were also higher than that of PA_LZ03. Therapeutically, PA_LZ01 and PA_LZ02 treatment led to decreased bacterial loads and inflammatory responses in a mouse model. In conclusion, we isolated three phages that can infect P. aeruginosa, which were stable in different environments and could reduce bacterial biofilms, suggesting their potential as promising candidates to treat P. aeruginosa infections. IMPORTANCE Phage therapy is a promising therapeutic option for treating bacterial infections that do not respond to common antimicrobial treatments. Biofilm-mediated infections are particularly difficult to treat with traditional antibiotics, and the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains has further complicated the situation. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a bacterial pathogen that causes chronic infections and is highly resistant to many antibiotics. The library of phages that target P. aeruginosa is expanding, and the isolation of new bacteriophages is constantly required. In this study, three bacteriophages that could infect P. aeruginosa were isolated, and their biological characteristics were investigated. In particular, the isolated phages are capable of reducing biofilms formed by P. aeruginosa. Further analysis indicates that treatment with PA_LZ01 and PA_LZ02 phages reduces bacterial loads and inflammatory responses in vivo. This study isolated and characterized bacteriophages that could infect P. aeruginosa, which offers a resource for phage therapy.

Full-scale industrial phage trial targeting Salmonella on pork carcasses

Phages have been suggested as promising biocontrol agents in food, but trials demonstrating the efficiency of phage treatment under industrial settings are missing. Here we performed a full-scale industrial trial to evaluate the efficacy of a commercial phage product to reduce the prevalence of naturally occurring Salmonella on pork carcasses. A total of 134 carcasses from potentially Salmonella positive finisher herds were chosen to be tested at the slaughterhouse based on the level of antibodies in the blood. During five consecutive runs, carcasses were directed into a cabin spraying phages, resulting in a dosage of approximately 2 × 107 phages per cm2 carcass surface. To evaluate the presence of Salmonella, a predefined area of one half of the carcass was swabbed before phage application and the other half 15 min after. A total of 268 samples were analysed by Real-Time PCR. Under these optimized test conditions, 14 carcasses were found positive before phage application, while only 3 carcasses were positive after. This work shows that phage application allows to achieve approximatively 79% reduction of Salmonella-positive carcasses and demonstrates that implementation of phage application in industrial settings can be used as an additional strategy to control foodborne pathogens.

A bacteriophage cocktail delivered in feed significantly reduced Salmonella colonization in challenged broiler chickens

AbstractNontyphoidal Salmonella spp. are a leading cause of human gastrointestinal infections and are commonly transmitted via consumption of contaminated meat. To limit the spread of Salmonella and other food-borne pathogens in the food chain, bacteriophage (phage) therapy could be used during rearing or pre-harvest stages of animal production. This study was conducted to determine if a phage cocktail delivered in-feed is capable of reducing Salmonella colonization in experimentally-challenged chickens and to determine the optimal phage dose. 672 broilers were divided into six treatment groups T1 (no phage diet and unchallenged); T2 (phage diet 10⁶ PFU/day); T3 (challenged group); T4 (phage diet 10⁵ PFU/day and challenged); T5 (phage diet 10⁶ PFU/day and challenged); and T6 (phage diet 10⁷ PFU/day and challenged). The liquid phage cocktail was added to mash diet with ad libitum access available throughout the study. By day 42 (concluding day of the study) no Salmonella was detected in faecal samples collected from group T4. Salmonella was isolated from a small number of pens in groups T5 (3/16) and T6 (2/16) at ∼4 × 10² CFU/g. In comparison Salmonella was isolated from 7/16 pens in T3 at ∼3 × 10⁴ CFU/g. Phage treatment at all three doses had a positive impact on growth performance in challenged birds with increased weight gains in comparison to challenged birds with no phage diet. We showed delivering phages via feed was effective at reducing Salmonella colonization in chickens and our study highlights phages offer a promising tool to target bacterial infections in poultry.

Effects of dietary supplementation of bacteriophage cocktail on health status of weanling pigs in a non-sanitary environment

BACKGROUND

The study evaluated the effects of bacteriophage cocktail (BP) and ZnO administered during weaning time for piglets exposed to a non-sanitary environment. The bacteriophages were designed to eliminate Escherichia coli (K88, K99 and F41), Salmonella (typhimurium and enteritidis), and Clostridium perfreingens (types A and C). Forty 21-day-old crossbreed piglets were assigned to four treatments, including the PC (sanitary environment), NC (non-sanitary environment), BP (NC plus 10⁸ pfu/kg BP), and ZO (NC plus 2,500 mg/kg ZnO). Piglets in the NC, BP and ZO were kept in a non-sanitary environment for 14 d, which was contaminated with the feces of infected pigs.

RESULTS

Pigs in the BP and ZO treatments had a higher final body weight compared with the NC. The NC treatment showed the highest concentration of inflammatory cytokines including interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α in the plasma. The administration of BP and ZO showed lower myeloperoxidase concentrations compared with the NC. The NC treatment showed a lower concentration of superoxide dismutase in serum compared with the PC. Among the treatments in non-sanitary environment, the NC treatment showed a higher concentration of malondialdehyde compared with the ZO. The PC treatment showed a lower concentration of butyric acid in the feces compared with the BP treatment. Among non-sanitary treatments, the villus height in the duodenum was greater in the BP and ZO compared with the NC. The lower abundance of Proteobacteria phylum was observed in the BP and PC treatments compared with the NC. The highest relative abundance of Eubacterium was recorded in the BP treatment. The abundance of Megasphaera and Schwartzia was higher in the NC pigs compared with the BP piglets. The abundance of Desulfovibrio was lower in the supplemented treatments (BP and ZO) compared with non-supplemented (NC and PC). The abundance of Cellulosilyticum genera was higher in the BP and ZO treatments rather than in the NC. The piglets in the NC treatment had the highest abundance of Escherichia-Shigella, followed by the PC and ZO treatments.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, these results suggest that the supplementation of bacteriophage cocktail could effectively control Proteobacteria phylum, Clostridium spp. and coliforms population and mitigated the adverse influences of weaning stress in piglets.

Genetic engineering of bacteriophages: Key concepts, strategies, and applications

Bacteriophages are the most abundant biological entity in the world and hold a tremendous amount of unexplored genetic information. Since their discovery, phages have drawn a great deal of attention from researchers despite their small size. The development of advanced strategies to modify their genomes and produce engineered phages with desired traits has opened new avenues for their applications. This review presents advanced strategies for developing engineered phages and their potential antibacterial applications in phage therapy, disruption of biofilm, delivery of antimicrobials, use of endolysin as an antibacterial agent, and altering the phage host range. Similarly, engineered phages find applications in eukaryotes as a shuttle for delivering genes and drugs to the targeted cells, and are used in the development of vaccines and facilitating tissue engineering. The use of phage display-based specific peptides for vaccine development, diagnostic tools, and targeted drug delivery is also discussed in this review. The engineered phage-mediated industrial food processing and biocontrol, advanced wastewater treatment, phage-based nano-medicines, and their use as a bio-recognition element for the detection of bacterial pathogens are also part of this review. The genetic engineering approaches hold great potential to accelerate translational phages and research. Overall, this review provides a deep understanding of the ingenious knowledge of phage engineering to move them beyond their innate ability for potential applications.

Activity of a Bacteriophage Cocktail to Control Salmonella Growth Ex Vivo in Avian, Porcine, and Human Epithelial Cell Cultures

We examined the activity of phages to control the growth of chicken and swine Salmonella strains in avian (CHIC-8E11), porcine (IPEC-1), and human (HT-29) cell cultures. We optimized a six-phage cocktail by selecting the five most effective myoviruses and a siphovirus that have optimal lysis on prevalent serovars. We observed ∼20% of 7 log10 PFU/well phage and 3-6 log10 CFU bacterial adhesions, and 3-5 log10 CFU bacterial invasion per 2 cm2 of the cultured cells at 2 h post-treatment. The invasive bacteria when plated had a variable reduced susceptibility to the phages. After phage application at an MOI of 10, the prophylaxis regimen had better efficacy at controlling bacterial growth with an up to 6 log10 CFU/well reduction as compared with the 1-2 log10 CFU/well bacterial reduction observed in the remedial and coinfection regimens. Our data support the development of these phages to control salmonellosis in chickens, pigs, and humans.

Pseudomonas Phage ZCPS1 Endolysin as a Potential Therapeutic Agent

The challenge of antibiotic resistance has gained much attention in recent years due to the rapid emergence of resistant bacteria infecting humans and risking industries. Thus, alternatives to antibiotics are being actively searched for. In this regard, bacteriophages and their enzymes, such as endolysins, are a very attractive alternative. Endolysins are the lytic enzymes, which are produced during the late phase of the lytic bacteriophage replication cycle to target the bacterial cell walls for progeny release. Here, we cloned, expressed, and purified LysZC1 endolysin from Pseudomonas phage ZCPS1. The structural alignment, molecular dynamic simulation, and CD studies suggested LysZC1 to be majorly helical, which is highly similar to various phage-encoded lysozymes with glycoside hydrolase activity. Our endpoint turbidity reduction assay displayed the lytic activity against various Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens. Although in synergism with EDTA, LysZC1 demonstrated significant activity against Gram-negative pathogens, it demonstrated the highest activity against Bacillus cereus. Moreover, LysZC1 was able to reduce the numbers of logarithmic-phase B. cereus by more than 2 log10 CFU/mL in 1 h and also acted on the stationary-phase culture. Remarkably, LysZC1 presented exceptional thermal stability, pH tolerance, and storage conditions, as it maintained the antibacterial activity against its host after nearly one year of storage at 4 °C and after being heated at temperatures as high as 100 °C for 10 min. Our data suggest that LysZC1 is a potential candidate as a therapeutic agent against bacterial infection and an antibacterial bio-control tool in food preservation technology.

Phage therapy: From biological mechanisms to future directions

Increasing antimicrobial resistance rates have revitalized bacteriophage (phage) research, the natural predators of bacteria discovered over 100 years ago. In order to use phages therapeutically, they should (1) preferably be lytic, (2) kill the bacterial host efficiently, and (3) be fully characterized to exclude side effects. Developing therapeutic phages takes a coordinated effort of multiple stakeholders. Herein, we review the state of the art in phage therapy, covering biological mechanisms, clinical applications, remaining challenges, and future directions involving naturally occurring and genetically modified or synthetic phages.

From Farm to Fork: Streptococcus suis as a Model for the Development of Novel Phage-Based Biocontrol Agents

Bacterial infections of livestock threaten the sustainability of agriculture and public health through production losses and contamination of food products. While prophylactic and therapeutic application of antibiotics has been successful in managing such infections, the evolution and spread of antibiotic-resistant strains along the food chain and in the environment necessitates the development of alternative or adjunct preventive and/or therapeutic strategies. Additionally, the growing consumer preference for "greener" antibiotic-free food products has reinforced the need for novel and safer approaches to controlling bacterial infections. The use of bacteriophages (phages), which can target and kill bacteria, are increasingly considered as a suitable measure to reduce bacterial infections and contamination in the food industry. This review primarily elaborates on the recent veterinary applications of phages and discusses their merits and limitations. Furthermore, using Streptococcus suis as a model, we describe the prevalence of prophages and the anti-viral defence arsenal in the genome of the pathogen as a means to define the genetic building blocks that are available for the (synthetic) development of phage-based treatments. The data and approach described herein may provide a framework for the development of therapeutics against an array of bacterial pathogens.