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Iskender I, Soyer Y. Phage Therapy Against Pathogenic Escherichia coli (O104:H4, O157:H7, and O26) Strains in Irrigation Water During Garden Cress ( Lepidium sativum Linn.) Vegetation. Foodborne Pathog Dis 2023; 20:553-562. [PMID: 37801662 DOI: 10.1089/fpd.2023.0020] [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: 10/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Fresh produce outbreaks have increased worldwide. Foodborne pathogens are transmitted mostly by contaminated water, and elimination is harder after the transmission. To eliminate pathogens in fresh produce, chemical prevention methods, including chlorine, can be used. However, the usage of chemicals poses a risk to human health, as well as environmental health. Therefore, alternative prevention methods that can be applied in the field should be investigated. This study aims to investigate an alternative method to prevent the pathogenic Escherichia coli strain O26 and Shiga toxin-producing strains O104:H4 and O157:H7 on freshly consumed garden cresses. In this study, garden cresses were treated with bacteriophages after becoming contaminated with pathogenic E. coli strains during growth. After 30 days, the leaves were collected and tested for the presence of E. coli. Its adherence on the leaf surface was investigated with scanning electron microscope (SEM). Although there were significant reductions in both total and biofilm-forming E. coli counts in pathogenic E. coli strain O26 and Shiga toxin-producing strains O104:H4 and O157:H7, which is also confirmed with the SEM images, the counts were not lowered to levels permitted by the EU. Therefore, results showed that phage therapy against pathogenic E. coli strains may be used as a biocontrol agent in combination with additional control measure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irem Iskender
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Yesim Soyer
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey
- Department of Food Engineering, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey
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E S, Gummadi SN. Advances in the applications of Bacteriophages and phage products against food-contaminating bacteria. Crit Rev Microbiol 2023:1-26. [PMID: 37861086 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2023.2271098] [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: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Food-contaminating bacteria pose a threat to food safety and the economy by causing foodborne illnesses and spoilage. Bacteriophages, a group of viruses that infect only bacteria, have the potential to control bacteria throughout the "farm-to-fork continuum". Phage application offers several advantages, including targeted action against specific bacterial strains and minimal impact on the natural microflora of food. This review covers multiple aspects of bacteriophages applications in the food industry, including their use as biocontrol and biopreservation agents to fight over 20 different genera of food-contaminating bacteria, reduce cross-contamination and the risk of foodborne diseases, and also to prolong shelf life and preserve freshness. The review also highlights the benefits of using bacteriophages in bioprocesses to selectively inhibit undesirable bacteria, such as substrate competitors and toxin producers, which is particularly valuable in complex microbial bioprocesses where physical or chemical methods become inadequate. Furthermore, the review briefly discusses other uses of bacteriophages in the food industry, such as sanitizing food processing environments and detecting specific bacteria in food products. The review also explores strategies to enhance the effectiveness of phages, such as employing multi-phage cocktails, encapsulated phages, phage products, and synergistic hurdle approaches by combining them with antimicrobials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suja E
- Applied and Industrial Microbiology Laboratory (AIM Lab), Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India
| | - Sathyanarayana N Gummadi
- Applied and Industrial Microbiology Laboratory (AIM Lab), Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India
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3
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Mangieri N, Vieira RP, Picozzi C. Influence of cheese making process on STEC bacteriophage release. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1270346. [PMID: 37840705 PMCID: PMC10569213 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1270346] [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: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are foodborne pathogens implicated in diseases including hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and hemorrhagic colitis (HC). The main virulence factor are Shiga toxins; their production and secretion are by-products of the expression of late genes of prophages upon sub-lethal environmental stimuli exposure. Hence, the lysogenic prophage after a stress switch to lytic cycle spreading the Stx phages. In the present study, 35 STEC were screened for the presence and the ability to release Shiga toxin-encoding bacteriophages. Three bacterial strains showed signals of prophage presence both in plate and in PCR. Subsequently, these bacterial strains were subjected to stressors that simulate cheese manufacturing conditions: NaCl (1, 1.5 and 2% w/v), lactic acid (0.5, 1.5 and 3% v/v), anaerobic growth, pasteurization (72°C for 15 s), UV irradiation. The ability to release prophage was evaluated by Real Time qPCR. Induction of the prophages showed that the addition of NaCl at 1.5 and 2% significantly increased viral release compared to control. Conversely, the addition of lactic acid had a significant repressive effect. The other applied stressors had no significant effect in phage release according to the experimental conditions adopted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Mangieri
- DeFENS, Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università Degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Rui P. Vieira
- DeFENS, Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università Degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Claudia Picozzi
- DeFENS, Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università Degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
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Kozlova AP, Saksaganskaia AS, Afonin AM, Muntyan VS, Vladimirova ME, Dzyubenko EA, Roumiantseva ML. A Temperate Sinorhizobium Phage, AP-16-3, Closely Related to Phage 16-3: Mosaic Genome and Prophage Analysis. Viruses 2023; 15:1701. [PMID: 37632043 PMCID: PMC10460002 DOI: 10.3390/v15081701] [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: 07/08/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Soil Sinorhizobium phage AP-16-3, a strain phylogenetically close to Rhizobium phage 16-3, was isolated in a mountainous region of Dagestan, belonging to the origin of cultivated plants in the Caucasus, according to Vavilov N.I. The genome of phage AP-16-3 is 61 kbp in size and contains 62 ORFs, of which 42 ORFs have homologues in the genome of Rhizobium phage 16-3, which was studied in the 1960s-1980s. A search for Rhizobium phage 16-3-related sequences was performed in the genomes of modern strains of root nodule bacteria belonging to different species, genera, and families. A total of 43 prophages of interest were identified out of 437 prophages found in the genomes of 42 strains, of which 31 belonged to Sinorhizobium meliloti species. However, almost all of the mentioned prophages contained single ORFs, and only two prophages contained 51 and 39 ORFs homologous to phages related to 16-3. These prophages were detected in S. meliloti NV1.1.1 and Rh. leguminosarum OyaliB strains belonging to different genera; however, the similarity level of these two prophages did not exceed 14.7%. Analysis of the orphan genes in these prophages showed that they encoded predominantly virion structural elements, but also enzymes and an extensive group of hypothetical proteins belonging to the L, S, and E regions of viral genes of phage 16-3. The data obtained indicate that temperate phages related to 16-3 had high infectivity against nodule bacteria and participated in intragenomic recombination events involving other phages, and in horizontal gene transfer between rhizobia of different genera. According to the data obtained, it is assumed that the repetitive lysogenic cycle of temperate bacteriophages promotes the dissolution of the phage genetic material in the host bacterial genome, and radical updating of phage and host bacterial genomes takes place.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra P. Kozlova
- Laboratory of Genetics and Selection of Microorganisms, Federal State Budget Scientific Institution All-Russia Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology (FSBSI ARRIAM), 196608 Saint Petersburg, Russia; (A.P.K.); (A.S.S.); (V.S.M.); (M.E.V.)
| | - Alla S. Saksaganskaia
- Laboratory of Genetics and Selection of Microorganisms, Federal State Budget Scientific Institution All-Russia Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology (FSBSI ARRIAM), 196608 Saint Petersburg, Russia; (A.P.K.); (A.S.S.); (V.S.M.); (M.E.V.)
| | - Alexey M. Afonin
- Laboratory of Genetics of Plant-Microbe Interactions, Federal State Budget Scientific Institution All-Russia Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology (FSBSI ARRIAM), 196608 Saint Petersburg, Russia;
| | - Victoria S. Muntyan
- Laboratory of Genetics and Selection of Microorganisms, Federal State Budget Scientific Institution All-Russia Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology (FSBSI ARRIAM), 196608 Saint Petersburg, Russia; (A.P.K.); (A.S.S.); (V.S.M.); (M.E.V.)
| | - Maria E. Vladimirova
- Laboratory of Genetics and Selection of Microorganisms, Federal State Budget Scientific Institution All-Russia Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology (FSBSI ARRIAM), 196608 Saint Petersburg, Russia; (A.P.K.); (A.S.S.); (V.S.M.); (M.E.V.)
| | - Elena A. Dzyubenko
- N. I. Vavilov Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR), 190031 Saint Petersburg, Russia;
| | - Marina L. Roumiantseva
- Laboratory of Genetics and Selection of Microorganisms, Federal State Budget Scientific Institution All-Russia Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology (FSBSI ARRIAM), 196608 Saint Petersburg, Russia; (A.P.K.); (A.S.S.); (V.S.M.); (M.E.V.)
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Choo KW, Mao L, Mustapha A. CAM-21, a novel lytic phage with high specificity towards Escherichia coli O157:H7 in food products. Int J Food Microbiol 2023; 386:110026. [PMID: 36444789 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2022.110026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a foodborne pathogen that has become a serious global concern for food safety. Despite the application of different traditional biocontrol methods in the food industry, food borne disease outbreaks linked to this organism remain. Due to their high specificity, lytic bacteriophages are promising antimicrobial agents that could be utilized to control pathogens in foods. In this study, a novel Escherichia phage, CAM-21, was isolated from a dairy farm environment. CAM-21 showed targeted host specificity towards various serotypes of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, including O157:H7, O26, O103, and O145. Morphological analyses revealed that CAM-21 has a polyhedron capsid and a contractile tail with a diameter of about 92.83 nm, and length of about 129.75 nm, respectively. CAM-21 showed a strong inhibitory effect on the growth of E. coli O157:H7, even at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of as low as 0.001. Phage adsorption and one-step growth analysis indicated that the target pathogen was rapidly lysed by CAM-21 that exhibited a short latent time (20 min). Electron microscopic and genomic DNA analyses suggested that CAM-21 is a lytic phage, classified as a new species in the Tequatrovirus genus of the Myoviridae Family. Based on whole genome sequencing, CAM-21 has a double-stranded DNA with 166,962 bp, 265 open reading frames and 11 tRNA. The genome of CAM-21 did not encode toxins, virulence factors, antibiotic resistance, lysogeny or allergens. Phylogenetic and genomic comparative analyses suggested that CAM-21 is a T4-like phage species. The growth of E. coli O157:H7 was effectively controlled in milk, ground beef and baby spinach at MOIs of 1000 and 10,000. CAM-21 significantly (P ≤ 0.05) reduced the bacterial counts of the treated foods, ranging from 1.4-2.0 log CFU/mL in milk to 1.3-1.4 log CFU/g in ground beef and baby spinach. These findings suggest that the lytic phage, CAM-21, is a potential candidate for controlling E. coli O157:H7 contamination in foods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Wen Choo
- Food Science Program, University of Missouri, Columbia, United States of America
| | - Liang Mao
- Food Science Program, University of Missouri, Columbia, United States of America
| | - Azlin Mustapha
- Food Science Program, University of Missouri, Columbia, United States of America.
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Wójcicki M, Świder O, Gientka I, Błażejak S, Średnicka P, Shymialevich D, Cieślak H, Wardaszka A, Emanowicz P, Sokołowska B, Juszczuk-Kubiak E. Effectiveness of a Phage Cocktail as a Potential Biocontrol Agent against Saprophytic Bacteria in Ready-To-Eat Plant-Based Food. Viruses 2023; 15:172. [PMID: 36680211 PMCID: PMC9860863 DOI: 10.3390/v15010172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 01/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the phage cocktail to improve the microbiological quality of five different mixed-leaf salads: rucola, mixed-leaf salad with carrot, mixed-leaf salad with beetroot, washed and unwashed spinach, during storage in refrigerated conditions. Enterobacterales rods constituted a significant group of bacteria in the tested products. Selected bacteria were tested for antibiotic resistance profiles and then used to search for specific bacteriophages. Forty-three phages targeting bacteria dominant in mixed-leaf salads were isolated from sewage. Their titer was determined, and lytic activity was assessed using the Bioscreen C Pro automated growth analyzer. Two methods of phage cocktail application including spraying, and an absorption pad were effective for rucola, mixed leaf salad with carrot, and mixed leaf salad with beetroot. The maximum reduction level after 48 h of incubation reached 99.9% compared to the control sample. In washed and unwashed spinach, attempts to reduce the number of microorganisms did not bring the desired effect. The decrease in bacteria count in the lettuce mixes depended on the composition of the autochthonous saprophytic bacteria species. Both phage cocktail application methods effectively improved the microbiological quality of minimally processed products. Whole-spectral phage cocktail application may constitute an alternative food microbiological quality improvement method without affecting food properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michał Wójcicki
- Laboratory of Biotechnology and Molecular Engineering, Department of Microbiology, Prof. Waclaw Dabrowski Institute of Agricultural and Food Biotechnology—State Research Institute, Rakowiecka 36 Street, 02-532 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Olga Świder
- Department of Food Safety and Chemical Analysis, Prof. Waclaw Dabrowski Institute of Agricultural and Food Biotechnology—State Research Institute, Rakowiecka 36 Street, 02-532 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Iwona Gientka
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Microbiology, Institute of Food Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (WULS-SGGW), Nowoursynowska 166 Street, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Stanisław Błażejak
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Microbiology, Institute of Food Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (WULS-SGGW), Nowoursynowska 166 Street, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Paulina Średnicka
- Laboratory of Biotechnology and Molecular Engineering, Department of Microbiology, Prof. Waclaw Dabrowski Institute of Agricultural and Food Biotechnology—State Research Institute, Rakowiecka 36 Street, 02-532 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Dziyana Shymialevich
- Culture Collection of Industrial Microorganisms—Microbiological Resources Center, Department of Microbiology, Prof. Waclaw Dabrowski Institute of Agricultural and Food Biotechnology—State Research Institute, Rakowiecka 36 Street, 02-532 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Hanna Cieślak
- Culture Collection of Industrial Microorganisms—Microbiological Resources Center, Department of Microbiology, Prof. Waclaw Dabrowski Institute of Agricultural and Food Biotechnology—State Research Institute, Rakowiecka 36 Street, 02-532 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Artur Wardaszka
- Laboratory of Biotechnology and Molecular Engineering, Department of Microbiology, Prof. Waclaw Dabrowski Institute of Agricultural and Food Biotechnology—State Research Institute, Rakowiecka 36 Street, 02-532 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Paulina Emanowicz
- Laboratory of Biotechnology and Molecular Engineering, Department of Microbiology, Prof. Waclaw Dabrowski Institute of Agricultural and Food Biotechnology—State Research Institute, Rakowiecka 36 Street, 02-532 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Barbara Sokołowska
- Department of Microbiology, Prof. Waclaw Dabrowski Institute of Agricultural and Food Biotechnology—State Research Institute, Rakowiecka 36 Street, 02-532 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Edyta Juszczuk-Kubiak
- Laboratory of Biotechnology and Molecular Engineering, Department of Microbiology, Prof. Waclaw Dabrowski Institute of Agricultural and Food Biotechnology—State Research Institute, Rakowiecka 36 Street, 02-532 Warsaw, Poland
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Nale JY, Thanki AM, Rashid SJ, Shan J, Vinner GK, Dowah ASA, Cheng JKJ, Sicheritz-Pontén T, Clokie MRJ. Diversity, Dynamics and Therapeutic Application of Clostridioides difficile Bacteriophages. Viruses 2022; 14:v14122772. [PMID: 36560776 PMCID: PMC9784644 DOI: 10.3390/v14122772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile causes antibiotic-induced diarrhoea and pseudomembranous colitis in humans and animals. Current conventional treatment relies solely on antibiotics, but C. difficile infection (CDI) cases remain persistently high with concomitant increased recurrence often due to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains. Antibiotics used in treatment also induce gut microbial imbalance; therefore, novel therapeutics with improved target specificity are being investigated. Bacteriophages (phages) kill bacteria with precision, hence are alternative therapeutics for the targeted eradication of the pathogen. Here, we review current progress in C. difficile phage research. We discuss tested strategies of isolating C. difficile phages directly, and via enrichment methods from various sample types and through antibiotic induction to mediate prophage release. We also summarise phenotypic phage data that reveal their morphological, genetic diversity, and various ways they impact their host physiology and pathogenicity during infection and lysogeny. Furthermore, we describe the therapeutic development of phages through efficacy testing in different in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo infection models. We also discuss genetic modification of phages to prevent horizontal gene transfer and improve lysis efficacy and formulation to enhance stability and delivery of the phages. The goal of this review is to provide a more in-depth understanding of C. difficile phages and theoretical and practical knowledge on pre-clinical, therapeutic evaluation of the safety and effectiveness of phage therapy for CDI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janet Y. Nale
- Centre for Epidemiology and Planetary Health, Department of Veterinary and Animal Science, Scotland’s Rural College, Inverness IV2 5NA, UK
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
| | - Anisha M. Thanki
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
| | - Srwa J. Rashid
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
| | - Jinyu Shan
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
| | - Gurinder K. Vinner
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
| | - Ahmed S. A. Dowah
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
- School of Pharmacy, University of Lincoln, Lincoln LN6 7TS, UK
| | | | - Thomas Sicheritz-Pontén
- Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, The Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, 1353 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Centre of Excellence for Omics-Driven Computational Biodiscovery, AIMST University, Bedong 08100, Kedah, Malaysia
| | - Martha R. J. Clokie
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
- Correspondence:
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Sterilizing effect of phage cocktail against Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 in foods. FOOD BIOSCI 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fbio.2022.102282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
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Hyla K, Dusza I, Skaradzińska A. Recent Advances in the Application of Bacteriophages against Common Foodborne Pathogens. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:1536. [PMID: 36358191 PMCID: PMC9686946 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11111536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 10/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophage potential in combating bacterial pathogens has been recognized nearly since the moment of discovery of these viruses at the beginning of the 20th century. Interest in phage application, which initially focused on medical treatments, rapidly spread throughout different biotechnological and industrial fields. This includes the food safety sector in which the presence of pathogens poses an explicit threat to consumers. This is also the field in which commercialization of phage-based products shows the greatest progress. Application of bacteriophages has gained special attention particularly in recent years, presumably due to the potential of conventional antibacterial strategies being exhausted. In this review, we present recent findings regarding phage application in fighting major foodborne pathogens, including Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli, Yersinia spp., Campylobacter jejuni and Listeria monocytogenes. We also discuss advantages of bacteriophage use and challenges facing phage-based antibacterial strategies, particularly in the context of their widespread application in food safety.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Aneta Skaradzińska
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Microbiology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Science, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Chełmońskiego 37, 51-630 Wrocław, Poland
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Lu YT, Ma Y, Wong CW, Wang S. Characterization and application of bacteriophages for the biocontrol of Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli in Romaine lettuce. Food Control 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2022.109109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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McMahon TC, Kingombe CB, Mathews A, Seyer K, Wong A, Blais BW, Carrillo CD. Microbial Antagonism in Food-Enrichment Culture: Inhibition of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli and Shigella Species. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:880043. [PMID: 35814680 PMCID: PMC9259949 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.880043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial pathogens, such as Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and Shigella spp., are important causes of foodborne illness internationally. Recovery of these organisms from foods is critical for food safety investigations to support attribution of illnesses to specific food commodities; however, isolation of bacterial cultures can be challenging. Methods for the isolation of STEC and Shigella spp. from foods typically require enrichment to amplify target organisms to detectable levels. Yet, during enrichment, target organisms can be outcompeted by other bacteria in food matrices due to faster growth rates, or through production of antimicrobial agents such as bacteriocins or bacteriophages. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of Shigella and STEC inhibitors produced by food microbiota. The production of antimicrobial compounds in cell-free extracts from 200 bacterial strains and 332 food-enrichment broths was assessed. Cell-free extracts produced by 23 (11.5%) of the strains tested inhibited growth of at least one of the five Shigella and seven STEC indicator strains used in this study. Of the 332 enrichment broths tested, cell-free extracts from 25 (7.5%) samples inhibited growth of at least one of the indicator strains tested. Inhibition was most commonly associated with E. coli recovered from meat products. Most of the inhibiting compounds were determined to be proteinaceous (34 of the 48 positive samples, 71%; including 17 strains, 17 foods) based on inactivation by proteolytic enzymes, indicating presence of bacteriocins. The cell-free extracts from 13 samples (27%, eight strains, five foods) were determined to contain bacteriophages based on the observation of plaques in diluted extracts and/or resistance to proteolytic enzymes. These results indicate that the production of inhibitors by food microbiota may be an important challenge for the recovery of foodborne pathogens, particularly for Shigella sonnei. The performance of enrichment media for recovery of Shigella and STEC could be improved by mitigating the impact of inhibitors produced by food microbiota during the enrichment process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanis C. McMahon
- Research and Development, Ottawa Laboratory (Carling), Ontario Laboratory Network, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | | | - Amit Mathews
- Microbiology, Greater Toronto Area Laboratory, Ontario Laboratory Network, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Karine Seyer
- Microbiology (Food), St-Hyacinthe Laboratory, Eastern Laboratories Network, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, St-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada
| | - Alex Wong
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Burton W. Blais
- Research and Development, Ottawa Laboratory (Carling), Ontario Laboratory Network, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Catherine D. Carrillo
- Research and Development, Ottawa Laboratory (Carling), Ontario Laboratory Network, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- *Correspondence: Catherine D. Carrillo,
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12
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Li X, Chen Y, Wang S, Duan X, Zhang F, Guo A, Tao P, Chen H, Li X, Qian P. Exploring the Benefits of Metal Ions in Phage Cocktail for the Treatment of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Infection. Infect Drug Resist 2022; 15:2689-2702. [PMID: 35655790 PMCID: PMC9154003 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s362743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an important zoonotic pathogen worldwide. Infections due to MRSA are associated with higher mortality rates compared with methicillin-susceptible S. aureus. Meanwhile, bacteriophages have been shown to overcome the emergence of MRSA. Methods Phage PHB22a, PHB25a, PHB38a, and PHB40a were isolated. Here, we evaluated the ability of a phage cocktail containing phages PHB22a, PHB25a, PHB38a, and PHB40a against MRSA S-18 strain in vivo and in vitro. Phage whole-genome sequencing, host-range determination, lytic activity, and biofilm clearance experiments were performed in vitro. Galleria mellonella larvae and a mouse systemic infection model to evaluate the efficacy of phage therapy in vivo. Results The phage cocktail exhibited enhanced antibacterial and anti-biofilm effects compared to the single phage. Phage cocktail contained with Ca2+/Zn2+ significantly reduced the number of viable bacteria (24-h or 48-h biofilm) by more than 0.81-log compared to the phage cocktail alone. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the addition of Ca2+ and Zn2+ phage cocktail could increase the survival rate of G. mellonella larvae infected with S. aureus by 10% compared with phage cocktail alone. This was further confirmed in the mouse model, which showed a 2.64-log reduction of host bacteria S-18, when Ca2+ and Zn2+ were included in the cocktail compared with the phage cocktail alone. Conclusion Our results indicated that phage cocktail supplemented with Ca2+/Zn2+ could effectively remove bacteria in biofilms and mice tissues infected with S. aureus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinxin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, People’s Republic of China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, the Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yibao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, People’s Republic of China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, the Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shuang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, People’s Republic of China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, the Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaochao Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, People’s Republic of China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, the Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, People’s Republic of China
| | - Fenqiang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, People’s Republic of China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, the Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, People’s Republic of China
| | - Aizhen Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, People’s Republic of China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, the Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, People’s Republic of China
| | - Pan Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, People’s Republic of China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, the Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, People’s Republic of China
| | - Huanchun Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, People’s Republic of China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, the Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiangmin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, People’s Republic of China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, the Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ping Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, People’s Republic of China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, the Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, People’s Republic of China
- Correspondence: Ping Qian, Tel +86-27-87282608, Fax +86-27-87282608, Email
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Molina F, Menor-Flores M, Fernández L, Vega-Rodríguez MA, García P. Systematic analysis of putative phage-phage interactions on minimum-sized phage cocktails. Sci Rep 2022; 12:2458. [PMID: 35165352 PMCID: PMC8844382 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-06422-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The application of bacteriophages as antibacterial agents has many benefits in the “post-antibiotic age”. To increase the number of successfully targeted bacterial strains, phage cocktails, instead of a single phage, are commonly formulated. Nevertheless, there is currently no consensus pipeline for phage cocktail development. Thus, although large cocktails increase the spectrum of activity, they could produce side effects such as the mobilization of virulence or antibiotic resistance genes. On the other hand, coinfection (simultaneous infection of one host cell by several phages) might reduce the potential for bacteria to evolve phage resistance, but some antagonistic interactions amongst phages might be detrimental for the outcome of phage cocktail application. With this in mind, we introduce here a new method, which considers the host range and each individual phage-host interaction, to design the phage mixtures that best suppress the target bacteria while minimizing the number of phages to restrict manufacturing costs. Additionally, putative phage-phage interactions in cocktails and phage-bacteria networks are compared as the understanding of the complex interactions amongst bacteriophages could be critical in the development of realistic phage therapy models in the future.
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14
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DÜLGER MM, ÖZPINAR H. Use of Bacteriophages to Improve Food Safety. İSTANBUL GELIŞIM ÜNIVERSITESI SAĞLIK BILIMLERI DERGISI 2021. [DOI: 10.38079/igusabder.1004988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
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15
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Application of Bacteriophages on Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli (STEC) Biofilm. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021; 10:antibiotics10111423. [PMID: 34827361 PMCID: PMC8614735 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10111423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli are pathogenic bacteria able to form biofilms both on abiotic surfaces and on food, thus increasing risks for food consumers. Moreover, biofilms are difficult to remove and more resistant to antimicrobial agents compared to planktonic cells. Bacteriophages, natural predators of bacteria, can be used as an alternative to prevent biofilm formation or to remove pre-formed biofilm. In this work, four STEC able to produce biofilm were selected among 31 different strains and tested against single bacteriophages and two-phage cocktails. Results showed that our phages were able to reduce biofilm formation by 43.46% both when used as single phage preparation and as a cocktail formulation. Since one of the two cocktails had a slightly better performance, it was used to remove pre-existing biofilms. In this case, the phages were unable to destroy the biofilms and reduce the number of bacterial cells. Our data confirm that preventing biofilm formation in a food plant is better than trying to remove a preformed biofilm and the continuous presence of bacteriophages in the process environment could reduce the number of bacteria able to form biofilms and therefore improve the food safety.
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16
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Low-Temperature Virus vB_EcoM_VR26 Shows Potential in Biocontrol of STEC O26:H11. Foods 2021; 10:foods10071500. [PMID: 34203373 PMCID: PMC8307508 DOI: 10.3390/foods10071500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O26:H11 is an emerging foodborne pathogen of growing concern. Since current strategies to control microbial contamination in foodstuffs do not guarantee the elimination of O26:H11, novel approaches are needed. Bacteriophages present an alternative to traditional biocontrol methods used in the food industry. Here, a previously isolated bacteriophage vB_EcoM_VR26 (VR26), adapted to grow at common refrigeration temperatures (4 and 8 °C), has been evaluated for its potential as a biocontrol agent against O26:H11. After 2 h of treatment in broth, VR26 reduced O26:H11 numbers (p < 0.01) by > 2 log10 at 22 °C, and ~3 log10 at 4 °C. No bacterial regrowth was observed after 24 h of treatment at both temperatures. When VR26 was introduced to O26:H11-inoculated lettuce, ~2.0 log10 CFU/piece reduction was observed at 4, 8, and 22 °C. No survivors were detected after 4 and 6 h at 8 and 4 °C, respectively. Although at 22 °C, bacterial regrowth was observed after 6 h of treatment, O26:H11 counts on non-treated samples were >2 log10 CFU/piece higher than on phage-treated ones (p < 0.02). This, and the ability of VR26 to survive over a pH range of 3-11, indicates that VR26 could be used to control STEC O26:H11 in the food industry.
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17
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Montso PK, Mnisi CM, Ateba CN, Mlambo V. An Assessment of the Viability of Lytic Phages and Their Potency against Multidrug Resistant Escherichia coli O177 Strains under Simulated Rumen Fermentation Conditions. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021; 10:antibiotics10030265. [PMID: 33807633 PMCID: PMC7999206 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10030265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 02/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Preslaughter starvation and subacute ruminal acidosis in cattle are known to promote ruminal proliferation of atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli strains, thereby increasing the risk of meat and milk contamination. Using bacteriophages (henceforth called phages) to control these strains in the rumen is a potentially novel strategy. Therefore, this study evaluated the viability of phages and their efficacy in reducing E. coli O177 cells in a simulated ruminal fermentation system. Fourteen phage treatments were allocated to anaerobic serum bottles containing a grass hay substrate, buffered (pH 6.6–6.8) bovine rumen fluid, and E. coli O177 cells. The serum bottles were then incubated at 39 °C for 48 h. Phage titres quadratically increased with incubation time. Phage-induced reduction of E. coli O177 cell counts reached maximum values of 61.02–62.74% and 62.35–66.92% for single phages and phage cocktails, respectively. The highest E. coli O177 cell count reduction occurred in samples treated with vB_EcoM_366B (62.31%), vB_EcoM_3A1 (62.74%), vB_EcoMC3 (66.67%), vB_EcoMC4 (66.92%), and vB_EcoMC6 (66.42%) phages. In conclusion, lytic phages effectively reduced E. coli O177 cells under artificial rumen fermentation conditions, thus could be used as a biocontrol strategy in live cattle to reduce meat and milk contamination in abattoirs and milking parlours, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Kotsoana Montso
- Antimicrobial Resistance and Phage Biocontrol Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa;
- Food Security and Safety Niche Area, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +27-73-896-8423
| | - Caven Mguvane Mnisi
- Food Security and Safety Niche Area, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa;
- Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa
| | - Collins Njie Ateba
- Antimicrobial Resistance and Phage Biocontrol Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa;
- Food Security and Safety Niche Area, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa;
| | - Victor Mlambo
- School of Agricultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, University of Mpumalanga, Private Bag X11283, Mbombela 1200, South Africa;
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