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Bozidis P, Markou E, Gouni A, Gartzonika K. Does Phage Therapy Need a Pan-Phage? Pathogens 2024; 13:522. [PMID: 38921819 PMCID: PMC11206709 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13060522] [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: 05/16/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria is undoubtedly one of the most serious global health threats. One response to this threat that has been gaining momentum over the past decade is 'phage therapy'. According to this, lytic bacteriophages are used for the treatment of bacterial infections, either alone or in combination with antimicrobial agents. However, to ensure the efficacy and broad applicability of phage therapy, several challenges must be overcome. These challenges encompass the development of methods and strategies for the host range manipulation and bypass of the resistance mechanisms developed by pathogenic bacteria, as has been the case since the advent of antibiotics. As our knowledge and understanding of the interactions between phages and their hosts evolves, the key issue is to define the host range for each application. In this article, we discuss the factors that affect host range and how this determines the classification of phages into different categories of action. For each host range group, recent representative examples are provided, together with suggestions on how the different groups can be used to combat certain types of bacterial infections. The available methodologies for host range expansion, either through sequential adaptation to a new pathogen or through genetic engineering techniques, are also reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petros Bozidis
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece;
- Department of Microbiology, University Hospital of Ioannina, 45500 Ioannina, Greece; (E.M.); (A.G.)
| | - Eleftheria Markou
- Department of Microbiology, University Hospital of Ioannina, 45500 Ioannina, Greece; (E.M.); (A.G.)
| | - Athanasia Gouni
- Department of Microbiology, University Hospital of Ioannina, 45500 Ioannina, Greece; (E.M.); (A.G.)
| | - Konstantina Gartzonika
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece;
- Department of Microbiology, University Hospital of Ioannina, 45500 Ioannina, Greece; (E.M.); (A.G.)
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Plumet L, Morsli M, Ahmad-Mansour N, Clavijo-Coppens F, Berry L, Sotto A, Lavigne JP, Costechareyre D, Molle V. Isolation and Characterization of New Bacteriophages against Staphylococcal Clinical Isolates from Diabetic Foot Ulcers. Viruses 2023; 15:2287. [PMID: 38140529 PMCID: PMC10747802 DOI: 10.3390/v15122287] [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: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus sp. is the most common bacterial genus in infections related to diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). The emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria places a serious burden on public health systems. Phage therapy is an alternative treatment to antibiotics, overcoming the issue of antibiotic resistance. In this study, six phages (SAVM01 to SAVM06) were isolated from effluents and were used against a panel of staphylococcal clinical samples isolated from DFUs. A genomic analysis revealed that the phages belonged to the Herelleviridae family, with sequences similar to those of the Kayvirus genus. No lysogeny-associated genes, known virulence or drug resistance genes were identified in the phage genomes. The phages displayed a strong lytic and antibiofilm activity against DFU clinical isolates, as well as against opportunistic pathogenic coagulase-negative staphylococci. The results presented here suggest that these phages could be effective biocontrol agents against staphylococcal clinical isolates from DFUs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucile Plumet
- VBIC, INSERM U1047, University of Montpellier, 34095 Montpellier, France; (L.P.); (N.A.-M.)
| | - Madjid Morsli
- VBIC, INSERM U1047, Department of Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, University of Montpellier, CHU Nîmes, 30908 Nîmes, France; (M.M.); (J.-P.L.)
| | - Nour Ahmad-Mansour
- VBIC, INSERM U1047, University of Montpellier, 34095 Montpellier, France; (L.P.); (N.A.-M.)
| | | | - Laurence Berry
- Laboratory of Pathogen and Host Immunity, CNRS UMR5294, University of Montpellier, 34095 Montpellier, France;
| | - Albert Sotto
- VBIC, INSERM U1047, Department of Infectious Diseases, University of de Montpellier, CHU Nîmes, 30908 Nîmes, France;
| | - Jean-Philippe Lavigne
- VBIC, INSERM U1047, Department of Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, University of Montpellier, CHU Nîmes, 30908 Nîmes, France; (M.M.); (J.-P.L.)
| | | | - Virginie Molle
- VBIC, INSERM U1047, University of Montpellier, 34095 Montpellier, France; (L.P.); (N.A.-M.)
- VBIC, INSERM U1047, Department of Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, University of Montpellier, CHU Nîmes, 30908 Nîmes, France; (M.M.); (J.-P.L.)
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Bano A, Asghar F, Ejaz H, Junaid K, Bashier Eltayeb L, Javed N. Exploring the virulence potential of immune evasion cluster genes in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from cancer patients. Saudi J Biol Sci 2023; 30:103835. [PMID: 37885612 PMCID: PMC10597789 DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2023.103835] [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: 09/03/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is accountable for a plethora of infections, ranging from minor cutaneous manifestations to grave metastatic conditions. The dissemination of MRSA among cancer patients poses a substantial public health hazard on a global scale. This study explores the association between MRSA and bacteriophage-encoded immune evasion cluster (IEC) genes. This investigation employed a total of 168 pathogenic MRSA collected from 38 cancer and 130 non-cancer patients. A cefoxitin disc diffusion method followed by PCR analysis was used to identify the mecA gene. In this study, we employed singleplex and multiplexed PCR techniques to detect specific IEC genes. No association (p = 0.98) was observed between the sex and age of patients and MRSA isolates. However, MRSA isolates demonstrated a notable association (p = 0.01) with pus samples in non-cancer patients and skin swabs in cancer patients. The resistance profiles of MRSA strains from cancer and non-cancer patients did not show significant differences (p > 0.05). Notably, the sea gene was found to be more prevalent in MRSA isolates from cancer patients, displaying a significant association (p = 0.03). Additionally, this study identified two novel and distinct combinations of IEC types, namely V1 (sea, chp, scn) and V2 (sea, scn). Cancer patients had higher multidrug resistance and toxin gene abundance than non-cancer patients. The identification of two novel IEC patterns underscores the urgent need to control MRSA dissemination in hospitals and monitor emerging clones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abida Bano
- Institute of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics (MMG), University of the Punjab, Quaid e Azam (New) Campus, Lahore 54590, Pakistan
| | - Farah Asghar
- Institute of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics (MMG), University of the Punjab, Quaid e Azam (New) Campus, Lahore 54590, Pakistan
| | - Hasan Ejaz
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jouf University, Sakaka 72388, Saudi Arabia
| | - Kashaf Junaid
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK
| | - Lienda Bashier Eltayeb
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam Bin AbdulAziz University- Al-Kharj, 11942, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Numan Javed
- Institute of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics (MMG), University of the Punjab, Quaid e Azam (New) Campus, Lahore 54590, Pakistan
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Effect of the Biopolymer Carrier on Staphylococcus aureus Bacteriophage Lytic Activity. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12121875. [PMID: 36551303 PMCID: PMC9775117 DOI: 10.3390/biom12121875] [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: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of implant materials is always associated with the risk of infection. Moreover, the effectiveness of antibiotics is reduced due to antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Thus, selecting the appropriate alternative antimicrobials for local delivery systems is correlated with successful infection management. We evaluated immobilization of the S. aureus specific bacteriophages in clinically recognized biopolymers, i.e., chitosan and alginate, to control the release profile of the antimicrobials. The high-titre S. aureus specific bacteriophages were prepared from commercial bacteriophage cocktails. The polymer mixtures with the propagated bacteriophages were then prepared. The stability of the S. aureus bacteriophages in the biopolymer solutions was assessed. In the case of chitosan, no plaques indicating the presence of the lytic bacteriophages were observed. The titre reduction of the S. aureus bacteriophages in the Na-alginate was below 1 log unit. Furthermore, the bacteriophages retained their lytic activity in the alginate after crosslinking with Ca2+ ions. The release of the lytic S. aureus bacteriophages from the Ca-alginate matrices in the TRIS-HCl buffer solution (pH 7.4 ± 0.2) was determined. After 72 h-0.292 ± 0.021% of bacteriophages from the Ca-alginate matrices were released. Thus, sustained release of the lytic S. aureus bacteriophages can be ensured.
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Suárez CA, Carrasco ST, Brandolisio FNA, Abatangelo V, Boncompain CA, Peresutti-Bacci N, Morbidoni HR. Bioinformatic Analysis of a Set of 14 Temperate Bacteriophages Isolated from Staphylococcus aureus Strains Highlights Their Massive Genetic Diversity. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0033422. [PMID: 35880893 PMCID: PMC9430571 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00334-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Epidemiology and virulence studies of Staphylococcus aureus showed that temperate bacteriophages are one of the most powerful drivers for its evolution not only because of their abundance but also because of the richness of their genetic payload. Here, we report the isolation, genome sequencing, and bioinformatic analysis of 14 bacteriophages induced from lysogenic S. aureus strains from human or veterinary (cattle) origin. The bacteriophages belonged to the Siphoviridae family; were of similar genome size (40 to 45 kbp); and fell into clusters B2, B3, B5, and B7 according to a recent clustering proposal. One of the phages, namely, vB_SauS_308, was the most unusual one, belonging to the sparsely populated subcluster B7 but showing differences in protein family contents compared with the rest of the members. This phage contains a type I endolysin (one catalytic domain and noncanonical cell wall domain [CBD]) and a host recognition module lacking receptor binding protein, cell wall hydrolase, and tail fiber proteins. This phage also lacked virulence genes, which is opposite to what has been reported for subcluster B6 and B7 members. None of six phages, taken as representatives of each of the four subclusters, showed activity on coagulase-negative staphylococci (excepted for two Staphylococcus hominis strains in which propagation and a very slow adsorption rate were observed) nor transducing ability. Immunity tests on S. aureus RN4220 lysogens with each of these phages showed no cross immunity. IMPORTANCE To the best of our knowledge, this set of sequenced bacteriophages is the largest one in South America. Our report describes for the first time the utilization of MultiTwin software to analyze the relationship between phage protein families. Notwithstanding the fact that most of the genetic information obtained correlated with recently published information, due to their geographical origin, the reported analysis adds up to and confirms currently available knowledge of Staphylococcus aureus temperate bacteriophages in terms of phylogeny and role in host evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristian A. Suárez
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Soledad T. Carrasco
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Facundo N. A. Brandolisio
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Virginia Abatangelo
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Carina A. Boncompain
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Natalia Peresutti-Bacci
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Héctor R. Morbidoni
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
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Characterizing a Lytic Bacteriophage Infecting Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Isolated From Burn Patients. ARCHIVES OF CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2020. [DOI: 10.5812/archcid.91634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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Patel DR, Bhartiya SK, Kumar R, Shukla VK, Nath G. Use of Customized Bacteriophages in the Treatment of Chronic Nonhealing Wounds: A Prospective Study. INT J LOW EXTR WOUND 2019; 20:37-46. [PMID: 31752578 DOI: 10.1177/1534734619881076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Nonhealing ulcers are a great challenge to surgeons as they may occasionally culminate in amputation of the affected part. Mostly nonhealing of wounds results due to infection by antibiotic-resistant bacteria and subsequent biofilm formation. However, customized bacteriophage therapy may take care of both of the above-mentioned hurdles. A total of 48 study subjects of age group 12 to 70 years, having minimum one eligible full-thickness wound and failed to heal in 6-week duration with conventional therapy, were included in this exploratory prospective study. Patients with systemic diseases, that is, burn, malignancy, dermatological disorders, and ulcers with leprosy or tuberculosis, were excluded. However, subjects having diabetes and hypertension were included in the study. The customized monophage for single bacterial infection and cocktail of phages specific to 2 or more infecting bacteria were applied on an alternate day over the wound surface. A total of 5 to 7 applications were made till the wound became free of infecting bacteria. The study period extended from August 2018 to May 2019. The study subjects were followed for 3 months since the start of therapy. A cure rate of 81.2% could be obtained, of which 90.5% (19/21) patients were nondiabetic and 74.1% (20/27) diabetic. The wounds infected with Klebsiella pneumoniae were observed with relatively delayed healing. Post phage therapy, the mean hemoglobin level and percentage of lymphocytes increased significantly. The customized local phage therapy is very promising in nonhealing ulcers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dev Raj Patel
- Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | | | - Rajesh Kumar
- Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Vijay K Shukla
- Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Gopal Nath
- Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
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