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Chakraborty S, Rohit A, Prasanthi SJ, Chauhan A. A New Casjensviridae Bacteriophage Isolated from Hospital Sewage for Inactivation of Biofilms of Carbapenem Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae Clinical Isolates. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:904. [PMID: 39065601 PMCID: PMC11280391 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16070904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2024] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Klebsiella pneumoniae, a member of the ESKAPE pathogen group, is a prominent cause of hospital-acquired infections. The WHO has recognized carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae as a critical-one priority pathogen. These resilient superbugs have the ability to form biofilms and present a significant global threat. In the present study, we isolated and characterized a bacteriophage SAKp02, from hospital sewage, infectious to carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae patient isolates. SAKp02 could infect 43 of 72 clinical isolates, indicating a broad host spectrum. Whole genome analysis classified SAKp02 within the family Casjensviridae, with a 59,343 bp genome encoding 82 ORFs. Comparative genomic analysis revealed significant differences between SAKp02 and its closest viruses, indicating a distinct genetic makeup positioning it as a novel phage strain within the lineage. The SAKp02 genome comprises bacteriolytic enzymes, including holin, endolysin, and phage depolymerase, crucial for bacterial lysis and biofilm disruption. It reduced biofilm biomass by over threefold compared to the control and eradicated 99% of viable cells within a 4 h treatment period. Scanning electron microscopy corroborated the ability of the phage to dismantle biofilm matrices and lyse bacterial cells. Safe and effective treatments are warranted, and hence, the fully characterized lytic phages with therapeutic potential against drug-resistant clinical isolates of bacteria are needed. Our study is the first to report the antibacterial and antibiofilm activity of Casjensviridae phages, and our discovery of a novel K. pneumoniae phage broadens the arsenal against the bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sambuddha Chakraborty
- Department of Microbiology, Tripura University, Suryamaninagar 799022, India
- Department of Microbiology, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Jaurez Marg, New Delhi 110021, India
| | - Anusha Rohit
- Madras Medical Mission Hospital, Chennai 600037, India
| | | | - Ashwini Chauhan
- Department of Microbiology, Tripura University, Suryamaninagar 799022, India
- Department of Microbiology, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Jaurez Marg, New Delhi 110021, India
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2
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Ho P, Dam LC, Koh WRR, Nai RS, Nah QH, Rajaie Fizla FBM, Chan CC, Aung TT, Goh SG, Fang Y, Lim Z, Koh MG, Demott M, Boucher YF, Malleret B, Gin KYH, Dedon P, Moreira W. Screening of the PA14NR Transposon Mutant Library Identifies Genes Involved in Resistance to Bacteriophage Infection in Pseudomomas aeruginosa. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7009. [PMID: 39000118 PMCID: PMC11241198 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25137009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa infections pose a serious public health threat due to the rise in antimicrobial resistance. Phage therapy has emerged as a promising alternative. However, P. aeruginosa has evolved various mechanisms to thwart phage attacks, making it crucial to decipher these resistance mechanisms to develop effective therapeutic strategies. In this study, we conducted a forward-genetic screen of the P. aeruginosa PA14 non-redundant transposon library (PA14NR) to identify dominant-negative mutants displaying phage-resistant phenotypes. Our screening process revealed 78 mutants capable of thriving in the presence of phages, with 23 of them carrying insertions in genes associated with membrane composition. Six mutants exhibited total resistance to phage infection. Transposon insertions were found in genes known to be linked to phage-resistance such as galU and a glycosyl transferase gene, as well as novel genes such as mexB, lasB, and two hypothetical proteins. Functional experiments demonstrated that these genes played pivotal roles in phage adsorption and biofilm formation, indicating that altering the bacterial membrane composition commonly leads to phage resistance in P. aeruginosa. Importantly, these mutants displayed phenotypic trade-offs, as their resistance to phages inversely affected antibiotic resistance and hindered biofilm formation, shedding light on the complex interplay between phage susceptibility and bacterial fitness. This study highlights the potential of transposon mutant libraries and forward-genetic screens in identifying key genes involved in phage-host interactions and resistance mechanisms. These findings support the development of innovative strategies for combating antibiotic-resistant pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peiying Ho
- Antimicrobial Resistance Interdisciplinary Research Group (AMR IRG), Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) Centre, Singapore 117576, Singapore; (P.H.); (L.C.D.); (W.R.R.K.); (Q.H.N.); (F.B.M.R.F.); (C.C.C.); (P.D.)
| | - Linh Chi Dam
- Antimicrobial Resistance Interdisciplinary Research Group (AMR IRG), Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) Centre, Singapore 117576, Singapore; (P.H.); (L.C.D.); (W.R.R.K.); (Q.H.N.); (F.B.M.R.F.); (C.C.C.); (P.D.)
- Signature Research Program in Cardiovascular & Metabolic Disorders, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Wei Ren Ryanna Koh
- Antimicrobial Resistance Interdisciplinary Research Group (AMR IRG), Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) Centre, Singapore 117576, Singapore; (P.H.); (L.C.D.); (W.R.R.K.); (Q.H.N.); (F.B.M.R.F.); (C.C.C.); (P.D.)
- Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore 119074, Singapore
| | - Rui Si Nai
- Antimicrobial Resistance Interdisciplinary Research Group (AMR IRG), Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) Centre, Singapore 117576, Singapore; (P.H.); (L.C.D.); (W.R.R.K.); (Q.H.N.); (F.B.M.R.F.); (C.C.C.); (P.D.)
| | - Qian Hui Nah
- Antimicrobial Resistance Interdisciplinary Research Group (AMR IRG), Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) Centre, Singapore 117576, Singapore; (P.H.); (L.C.D.); (W.R.R.K.); (Q.H.N.); (F.B.M.R.F.); (C.C.C.); (P.D.)
| | - Faeqa Binte Muhammad Rajaie Fizla
- Antimicrobial Resistance Interdisciplinary Research Group (AMR IRG), Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) Centre, Singapore 117576, Singapore; (P.H.); (L.C.D.); (W.R.R.K.); (Q.H.N.); (F.B.M.R.F.); (C.C.C.); (P.D.)
| | - Chia Ching Chan
- Antimicrobial Resistance Interdisciplinary Research Group (AMR IRG), Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) Centre, Singapore 117576, Singapore; (P.H.); (L.C.D.); (W.R.R.K.); (Q.H.N.); (F.B.M.R.F.); (C.C.C.); (P.D.)
- Thrixen Pte Ltd., Singapore 048619, Singapore
| | - Thet Tun Aung
- Immunology Translational Research Programme, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore; (T.T.A.); (Z.L.); (M.G.K.); (B.M.)
| | - Shin Giek Goh
- Energy & Environmental Sustainability Solutions for Megacities (E2S2) Program, Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE), Singapore 117576, Singapore; (S.G.G.); (K.Y.-H.G.)
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117576, Singapore
| | - You Fang
- Energy & Environmental Sustainability Solutions for Megacities (E2S2) Program, Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE), Singapore 117576, Singapore; (S.G.G.); (K.Y.-H.G.)
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117576, Singapore
| | - Zhining Lim
- Immunology Translational Research Programme, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore; (T.T.A.); (Z.L.); (M.G.K.); (B.M.)
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Science Engineering (SCELSE), Singapore 637551, Singapore;
| | - Ming Guang Koh
- Immunology Translational Research Programme, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore; (T.T.A.); (Z.L.); (M.G.K.); (B.M.)
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Science Engineering (SCELSE), Singapore 637551, Singapore;
| | - Michael Demott
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA;
| | - Yann Felix Boucher
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Science Engineering (SCELSE), Singapore 637551, Singapore;
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117549, Singapore
| | - Benoit Malleret
- Immunology Translational Research Programme, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore; (T.T.A.); (Z.L.); (M.G.K.); (B.M.)
| | - Karina Yew-Hoong Gin
- Energy & Environmental Sustainability Solutions for Megacities (E2S2) Program, Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE), Singapore 117576, Singapore; (S.G.G.); (K.Y.-H.G.)
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117576, Singapore
- Environmental Research Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117576, Singapore
| | - Peter Dedon
- Antimicrobial Resistance Interdisciplinary Research Group (AMR IRG), Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) Centre, Singapore 117576, Singapore; (P.H.); (L.C.D.); (W.R.R.K.); (Q.H.N.); (F.B.M.R.F.); (C.C.C.); (P.D.)
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA;
| | - Wilfried Moreira
- Antimicrobial Resistance Interdisciplinary Research Group (AMR IRG), Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) Centre, Singapore 117576, Singapore; (P.H.); (L.C.D.); (W.R.R.K.); (Q.H.N.); (F.B.M.R.F.); (C.C.C.); (P.D.)
- Immunology Translational Research Programme, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore; (T.T.A.); (Z.L.); (M.G.K.); (B.M.)
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Science Engineering (SCELSE), Singapore 637551, Singapore;
- Life Science Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117456, Singapore
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Lohrmann C, Holm C, Datta SS. Influence of bacterial swimming and hydrodynamics on attachment of phages. SOFT MATTER 2024; 20:4795-4805. [PMID: 38847805 DOI: 10.1039/d4sm00060a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Bacteriophages ("phages") are viruses that infect bacteria. Since they do not actively self-propel, phages rely on thermal diffusion to find target cells-but can also be advected by fluid flows, such as those generated by motile bacteria themselves in bulk fluids. How does the flow field generated by a swimming bacterium influence how it encounters phages? Here, we address this question using coupled molecular dynamics and lattice Boltzmann simulations of flagellated bacteria swimming through a bulk fluid containing uniformly-dispersed phages. We find that while swimming increases the rate at which phages attach to both the cell body and flagellar propeller, hydrodynamic interactions strongly suppress this increase at the cell body, but conversely enhance this increase at the flagellar bundle. Our results highlight the pivotal influence of hydrodynamics on the interactions between bacteria and phages, as well as other diffusible species, in microbial environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Lohrmann
- Institute for Computational Physics, University of Stuttgart, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany.
| | - Christian Holm
- Institute for Computational Physics, University of Stuttgart, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany.
| | - Sujit S Datta
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA.
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Bull JJ, Wichman HA, Krone SM, Molineux IJ. Controlling Recombination to Evolve Bacteriophages. Cells 2024; 13:585. [PMID: 38607024 PMCID: PMC11011186 DOI: 10.3390/cells13070585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Recombination among different phages sometimes facilitates their ability to grow on new hosts. Protocols to direct the evolution of phage host range, as might be used in the application of phage therapy, would then benefit from including steps to enable recombination. Applying mathematical and computational models, in addition to experiments using phages T3 and T7, we consider ways that a protocol may influence recombination levels. We first address coinfection, which is the first step to enabling recombination. The multiplicity of infection (MOI, the ratio of phage to cell concentration) is insufficient for predicting (co)infection levels. The force of infection (the rate at which cells are infected) is also critical but is more challenging to measure. Using both a high force of infection and high MOI (>1) for the different phages ensures high levels of coinfection. We also apply a four-genetic-locus model to study protocol effects on recombinant levels. Recombinants accumulate over multiple generations of phage growth, less so if one phage outgrows the other. Supplementing the phage pool with the low-fitness phage recovers some of this 'lost' recombination. Overall, fine tuning of phage recombination rates will not be practical with wild phages, but qualitative enhancement can be attained with some basic procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- James J. Bull
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA;
- Institute for Modeling Collaboration and Innovation, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA;
| | - Holly A. Wichman
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA;
- Institute for Modeling Collaboration and Innovation, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA;
| | - Stephen M. Krone
- Institute for Modeling Collaboration and Innovation, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA;
- Department of Mathematics and Statistical Science, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA
| | - Ian J. Molineux
- Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Department of Molecular Biosciences, LaMontagne Center for Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA;
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5
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Ritter S, Wright ET, Serwer P. Extracellular Interaction of Bacillus thuringiensis, ATP and Phage 0105phi7-2: A Potential New Anti-Bacterial Strategy. Viruses 2023; 15:2409. [PMID: 38140651 PMCID: PMC10747076 DOI: 10.3390/v15122409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The following hypothesis proposes non-diffusive, environmental bacteriophage (phage) motion. (1) Some phage-hosting, motile bacteria undergo chemotaxis down ATP concentration gradients to escape lysis-inducing conditions, such as phage infection. (2) Some phages respond by non-infective binding to the motile bacteria. (3) When the bacteria reach a lower ATP concentration, which is a condition that signals increased density of phage-susceptible bacteria, the phage converts, Trojan-horse-like, to productive binding and infection. This hypothesis was previously proposed for Bacillus thuringiensis siphophage 0105phi7-2. It is tested here and confirmed with the following observations. (1) B. thuringiensis is found, macroscopically, preferentially located at low ATP concentrations when propagated in-gel after inoculation in the center of an artificially generated ATP concentration gradient. (2) Inoculating phage 0105phi7-2 at the bacteria inoculation site, 2-3 h after inoculation of bacteria, results in cell lysing activity that moves with the bacteria, without a visible trail of lysis. Trojan-horse-like behavior is consistent with only biofilm-inhabiting phages because environmental selection for this behavior requires limited fluid flows. We propose using artificial ATP concentration gradients to instigate Trojan-horse-like phage behavior during phage therapy of bacterial biofilms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Ritter
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, UT Health, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA;
| | - Elena T. Wright
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, UT Health, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA;
| | - Philip Serwer
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, UT Health, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA;
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6
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Letarov AV. Bacterial Virus Forcing of Bacterial O-Antigen Shields: Lessons from Coliphages. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:17390. [PMID: 38139217 PMCID: PMC10743462 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242417390] [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: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
In most Gram-negative bacteria, outer membrane (OM) lipopolysaccharide (LPS) molecules carry long polysaccharide chains known as the O antigens or O polysaccharides (OPS). The OPS structure varies highly from strain to strain, with more than 188 O serotypes described in E. coli. Although many bacteriophages recognize OPS as their primary receptors, these molecules can also screen OM proteins and other OM surface receptors from direct interaction with phage receptor-binding proteins (RBP). In this review, I analyze the body of evidence indicating that most of the E. coli OPS types robustly shield cells completely, preventing phage access to the OM surface. This shield not only blocks virulent phages but also restricts the acquisition of prophages. The available data suggest that OPS-mediated OM shielding is not merely one of many mechanisms of bacterial resistance to phages. Rather, it is an omnipresent factor significantly affecting the ecology, phage-host co-evolution and other related processes in E. coli and probably in many other species of Gram-negative bacteria. The phages, in turn, evolved multiple mechanisms to break through the OPS layer. These mechanisms rely on the phage RBPs recognizing the OPS or on using alternative receptors exposed above the OPS layer. The data allow one to forward the interpretation that, regardless of the type of receptors used, primary receptor recognition is always followed by the generation of a mechanical force driving the phage tail through the OPS layer. This force may be created by molecular motors of enzymatically active tail spikes or by virion structural re-arrangements at the moment of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrey V Letarov
- Winogradsky Institute of Micrbiology, Research Center Fundamentals of Biotechnology RAS, pr. 60-letiya Oktyabrya 7 bld. 2, Moscow 117312, Russia
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Smith NM, Nguyen TD, Chin WH, Sanborn JT, de Souza H, Ho BM, Luong T, Roach DR. A mechanism-based pathway toward administering highly active N-phage cocktails. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1292618. [PMID: 38045026 PMCID: PMC10690594 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1292618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophage (phage) therapy is being explored as a possible response to the antimicrobial resistance public health emergency. Administering a mixture of different phage types as a cocktail is one proposed strategy for therapeutic applications, but the optimal method for formulating phage cocktails remains a major challenge. Each phage strain has complex pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) properties which depend on the nano-scale size, target-mediated, self-dosing nature of each phage strain, and rapid selection of resistant subpopulations. The objective of this study was to explore the pharmacodynamics (PD) of three unique and clinically relevant anti-Pseudomonas phages after simulation of dynamic dosing strategies. The Hollow Fiber Infection Model (HFIM) is an in vitro system that mimics in vivo pharmacokinetics (PK) with high fidelity, providing an opportunity to quantify phage and bacteria concentration profiles over clinical time scales with rich sampling. Exogenous monotherapy-bolus (producing max concentrations of Cmax = 7 log10 PFU/mL) regimens of phages LUZ19, PYO2, and E215 produced Pseudomonas aeruginosa nadirs of 0, 2.14, or 2.99 log10 CFU/mL after 6 h of treatment, respectively. Exogenous combination therapy bolus regimens (LUZ19 + PYO2 or LUZ19 + E215) resulted in bacterial reduction to <2 log10 CFU/mL. In contrast, monotherapy as a continuous infusion (producing a steady-state concentration of Css,avg = 2 log10PFU/mL) was less effective at reducing bacterial densities. Specifically, PYO2 failed to reduce bacterial density. Next, a mechanism-based mathematical model was developed to describe phage pharmacodynamics, phage-phage competition, and phage-dependent adaptive phage resistance. Monte Carlo simulations supported bolus dose regimens, predicting lower bacterial counts with bolus dosing as compared to prolonged phage infusions. Together, in vitro and in silico evaluation of the time course of phage pharmacodynamics will better guide optimal patterns of administration of individual phages as a cocktail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas M. Smith
- Division of Clinical and Translational Therapeutics, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, NY, United States
| | - Thomas D. Nguyen
- Division of Clinical and Translational Therapeutics, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, NY, United States
| | - Wai Hoe Chin
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Jacob T. Sanborn
- Division of Clinical and Translational Therapeutics, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, NY, United States
| | - Harriet de Souza
- Division of Clinical and Translational Therapeutics, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, NY, United States
| | - Brian M. Ho
- Division of Clinical and Translational Therapeutics, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, NY, United States
| | - Tiffany Luong
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Dwayne R. Roach
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United States
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Abstract
Phage therapy is the application of bacterial viruses to control and, ideally, to eliminate problematic bacteria from patients. Usually employed are so-called strictly lytic phages, which upon adsorption of a bacterium should give rise to both bacterial death and bacterial lysis. This killing occurs with single-hit kinetics, resulting in relatively simple ways to mathematically model organismal-level, phage-bacterium interactions. Reviewed here are processes of phage therapy as viewed from these simpler mathematical perspectives, starting with phage dosing, continuing through phage adsorption of bacteria, and then considering the potential for phage numbers to be enhanced through in situ phage population growth. Overall, I suggest that a basic working knowledge of the underlying "simple maths" of phage therapy can be helpful toward making dosing decisions and predicting certain outcomes. This especially is during controlled in vitro experimentation but is relevant to thinking about in vivo applications as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen T Abedon
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Mansfield, Ohio, USA
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9
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Panhwar S, Keerio HA, Ilhan H, Boyacı IH, Tamer U. Principles, Methods, and Real-Time Applications of Bacteriophage-Based Pathogen Detection. Mol Biotechnol 2023:10.1007/s12033-023-00926-5. [PMID: 37914863 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-023-00926-5] [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: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial pathogens in water, food, and the environment are spreading diseases around the world. According to a World Health Organization (WHO) report, waterborne pathogens pose the most significant global health risks to living organisms, including humans and animals. Conventional bacterial detection approaches such as colony counting, microscopic analysis, biochemical analysis, and molecular analysis are expensive, time-consuming, less sensitive, and require a pre-enrichment step. However, the bacteriophage-based detection of pathogenic bacteria is a robust approach that utilizes bacteriophages, which are viruses that specifically target and infect bacteria, for rapid and accurate detection of targets. This review shed light on cutting-edge technologies about the novel structure of phages and the immobilization process on the surface of electrodes to detect targeted bacterial cells. Similarly, the purpose of this study was to provide a comprehensive assessment of bacteriophage-based biosensors utilized for pathogen detection, as well as their trends, outcomes, and problems. This review article summaries current phage-based pathogen detection strategies for the development of low-cost lab-on-chip (LOC) and point-of-care (POC) devices using electrochemical and optical methods such as surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS).
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Affiliation(s)
- Sallahuddin Panhwar
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Gazi University, 06330, Ankara, Turkey.
- Department of Civil Engineering, National University of Sciences and Technology, Quetta, 24090, Balochistan, Pakistan.
| | - Hareef Ahmed Keerio
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hasan Ilhan
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ordu University, Altinordu, 52200, Ordu, Turkey
| | - Ismail Hakkı Boyacı
- Department of Food Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Hacettepe University, Beytepe, 06800, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Ugur Tamer
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Gazi University, 06330, Ankara, Turkey.
- Metu MEMS Center, Ankara, Turkey.
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10
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Emencheta SC, Olovo CV, Eze OC, Kalu CF, Berebon DP, Onuigbo EB, Vila MMDC, Balcão VM, Attama AA. The Role of Bacteriophages in the Gut Microbiota: Implications for Human Health. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:2416. [PMID: 37896176 PMCID: PMC10609668 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15102416] [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: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophages (phages) are nano-sized viruses characterized by their inherent ability to live off bacteria. They utilize diverse mechanisms to absorb and gain entry into the bacterial cell wall via the release of viral genetic material, which uses the replication mechanisms of the host bacteria to produce and release daughter progeny virions that attack the surrounding host cells. They possess specific characteristics, including specificity for particular or closely related bacterial species. They have many applications, including as potential alternatives to antibiotics against multi-resistant bacterial pathogens and as control agents in bacteria-contaminated environments. They are ubiquitously abundant in nature and have diverse biota, including in the gut. Gut microbiota describes the community and interactions of microorganisms within the intestine. As with bacteria, parasitic bacteriophages constantly interact with the host bacterial cells within the gut system and have obvious implications for human health. However, it is imperative to understand these interactions as they open up possible applicable techniques to control gut-implicated bacterial diseases. Thus, this review aims to explore the interactions of bacteriophages with bacterial communities in the gut and their current and potential impacts on human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen C. Emencheta
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria; (S.C.E.); (O.C.E.); (C.F.K.); (E.B.O.)
- VBlab—Laboratory of Bacterial Viruses, University of Sorocaba, Sorocaba 18023-000, Brazil; (M.M.D.C.V.); (V.M.B.)
| | - Chinasa V. Olovo
- Department of Microbiology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria;
| | - Osita C. Eze
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria; (S.C.E.); (O.C.E.); (C.F.K.); (E.B.O.)
| | - Chisom F. Kalu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria; (S.C.E.); (O.C.E.); (C.F.K.); (E.B.O.)
| | - Dinebari P. Berebon
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria; (S.C.E.); (O.C.E.); (C.F.K.); (E.B.O.)
| | - Ebele B. Onuigbo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria; (S.C.E.); (O.C.E.); (C.F.K.); (E.B.O.)
| | - Marta M. D. C. Vila
- VBlab—Laboratory of Bacterial Viruses, University of Sorocaba, Sorocaba 18023-000, Brazil; (M.M.D.C.V.); (V.M.B.)
| | - Victor M. Balcão
- VBlab—Laboratory of Bacterial Viruses, University of Sorocaba, Sorocaba 18023-000, Brazil; (M.M.D.C.V.); (V.M.B.)
- Department of Biology and CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, P-3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Anthony A. Attama
- Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria
- Institute for Drug-Herbal Medicine-Excipient Research and Development, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria
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11
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Abedon ST. Automating Predictive Phage Therapy Pharmacology. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:1423. [PMID: 37760719 PMCID: PMC10525195 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12091423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Revised: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Viruses that infect as well as often kill bacteria are called bacteriophages, or phages. Because of their ability to act bactericidally, phages increasingly are being employed clinically as antibacterial agents, an infection-fighting strategy that has been in practice now for over one hundred years. As with antibacterial agents generally, the development as well as practice of this phage therapy can be aided via the application of various quantitative frameworks. Therefore, reviewed here are considerations of phage multiplicity of infection, bacterial likelihood of becoming adsorbed as a function of phage titers, bacterial susceptibility to phages also as a function of phage titers, and the use of Poisson distributions to predict phage impacts on bacteria. Considered in addition is the use of simulations that can take into account both phage and bacterial replication. These various approaches can be automated, i.e., by employing a number of online-available apps provided by the author, the use of which this review emphasizes. In short, the practice of phage therapy can be aided by various mathematical approaches whose implementation can be eased via online automation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen T Abedon
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Mansfield, OH 44906, USA
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12
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Abedon ST. Schlesinger Nailed It! Assessing a Key Primary Pharmacodynamic Property of Phages for Phage Therapy: Virion Encounter Rates with Motionless Bacterial Targets. DRUGS AND DRUG CANDIDATES 2023; 2:673-688. [PMID: 38770155 PMCID: PMC11104014 DOI: 10.3390/ddc2030034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses of bacteria and have been used as antibacterial agents now for over one-hundred years. The primary pharmacodynamics of therapeutic phages can be summed up as follows: phages at a certain concentration can reach bacteria at a certain rate, attach to bacteria that display appropriate receptors on their surfaces, infect, and (ideally) kill those now-adsorbed bacteria. Here, I consider the rate at which phages reach bacteria, during what can be dubbed as an 'extracellular search'. This search is driven by diffusion and can be described by what is known as the phage adsorption rate constant. That constant in turn is thought to be derivable from knowledge of bacterial size, virion diffusion rates, and the likelihood of phage adsorption given this diffusion-driven encounter with a bacterium. Here, I consider only the role of bacterial size in encounter rates. In 1932, Schlesinger hypothesized that bacterial size can be described as a function of cell radius (R , or R 1 ), as based on the non-phage-based theorizing of Smoluchowski (1917). The surface area of a cell-what is actually encountered-varies however instead as a function R 2 . Here, I both provide and review evidence indicating that Schlesinger's assertion seems to have been correct.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen T Abedon
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Mansfield, OH 44906, USA
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13
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Riber L, Carstens AB, Dougherty PE, Roy C, Willenbücher K, Hille F, Franz CMAP, Hansen LH. Pheno- and Genotyping of Three Novel Bacteriophage Genera That Target a Wheat Phyllosphere Sphingomonas Genus. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1831. [PMID: 37513003 PMCID: PMC10385605 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11071831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophages are viral agents that infect and replicate within bacterial cells. Despite the increasing importance of phage ecology, environmental phages-particularly those targeting phyllosphere-associated bacteria-remain underexplored, and current genomic databases lack high-quality phage genome sequences linked to specific environmentally important bacteria, such as the ubiquitous sphingomonads. Here, we isolated three novel phages from a Danish wastewater treatment facility. Notably, these phages are among the first discovered to target and regulate a Sphingomonas genus within the wheat phyllosphere microbiome. Two of the phages displayed a non-prolate Siphovirus morphotype and demonstrated a narrow host range when tested against additional Sphingomonas strains. Intergenomic studies revealed limited nucleotide sequence similarity within the isolated phage genomes and to publicly available metagenome data of their closest relatives. Particularly intriguing was the limited homology observed between the DNA polymerase encoding genes of the isolated phages and their closest relatives. Based on these findings, we propose three newly identified genera of viruses: Longusvirus carli, Vexovirus birtae, and Molestusvirus kimi, following the latest ICTV binomial nomenclature for virus species. These results contribute to our current understanding of phage genetic diversity in natural environments and hold promising implications for phage applications in phyllosphere microbiome manipulation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leise Riber
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, DK-1871 Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Alexander Byth Carstens
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, DK-1871 Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Peter Erdmann Dougherty
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, DK-1871 Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Chayan Roy
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, DK-1871 Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Katharina Willenbücher
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Max Rubner-Institut, Hermann-Weigmann-Strasse 1, 24103 Kiel, Germany
| | - Frank Hille
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Max Rubner-Institut, Hermann-Weigmann-Strasse 1, 24103 Kiel, Germany
| | - Charles M A P Franz
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Max Rubner-Institut, Hermann-Weigmann-Strasse 1, 24103 Kiel, Germany
| | - Lars Hestbjerg Hansen
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, DK-1871 Frederiksberg, Denmark
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14
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Petrovic Fabijan A, Iredell J, Danis-Wlodarczyk K, Kebriaei R, Abedon ST. Translating phage therapy into the clinic: Recent accomplishments but continuing challenges. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002119. [PMID: 37220114 PMCID: PMC10204993 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Phage therapy is a medical form of biological control of bacterial infections, one that uses naturally occurring viruses, called bacteriophages or phages, as antibacterial agents. Pioneered over 100 years ago, phage therapy nonetheless is currently experiencing a resurgence in interest, with growing numbers of clinical case studies being published. This renewed enthusiasm is due in large part to phage therapy holding promise for providing safe and effective cures for bacterial infections that traditional antibiotics acting alone have been unable to clear. This Essay introduces basic phage biology, provides an outline of the long history of phage therapy, highlights some advantages of using phages as antibacterial agents, and provides an overview of recent phage therapy clinical successes. Although phage therapy has clear clinical potential, it faces biological, regulatory, and economic challenges to its further implementation and more mainstream acceptance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Petrovic Fabijan
- Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
- Faculty of Health and Medicine, School of Medicine, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jonathan Iredell
- Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
- Faculty of Health and Medicine, School of Medicine, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Westmead Hospital, Western Sydney Local Health District, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Katarzyna Danis-Wlodarczyk
- Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Razieh Kebriaei
- P3 Research Laboratory, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Stephen T. Abedon
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Mansfield, Ohio, United States of America
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