Nanoparticles Influence Lytic Phage T4-like Performance In Vitro

Nanotechnology improves the detection of bacteria: Recent advances and future perspectives

Nanotechnology has advanced significantly, particularly in biomedicine, showing promise for nanomaterial applications. Bacterial infections pose persistent public health challenges due to the lack of rapid pathogen detection methods, resulting in antibiotic overuse and bacterial resistance, threatening the human microbiome. Nanotechnology offers a solution through nanoparticle-based materials facilitating early bacterial detection and combating resistance. This study explores recent research on nanoparticle development for controlling microbial infections using various nanotechnology-driven detection methods. These approaches include Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) Sensors, Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) Sensors, Optoelectronic-based sensors, Bacteriophage-Based Sensors, and nanotechnology-based aptasensors. These technologies provide precise bacteria detection, enabling targeted treatment and infection prevention. Integrating nanoparticles into detection approaches holds promise for enhancing patient outcomes and mitigating harmful bacteria spread in healthcare settings.

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

Introduction

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

Material and Methods

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

Results

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

Conclusion

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