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Costa P, Pereira C, Romalde JL, Almeida A. A game of resistance: War between bacteria and phages and how phage cocktails can be the solution. Virology 2024; 599:110209. [PMID: 39186863 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2024.110209] [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: 05/29/2024] [Revised: 08/12/2024] [Accepted: 08/14/2024] [Indexed: 08/28/2024]
Abstract
While phages hold promise as an antibiotic alternative, they encounter significant challenges in combating bacterial infections, primarily due to the emergence of phage-resistant bacteria. Bacterial defence mechanisms like superinfection exclusion, CRISPR, and restriction-modification systems can hinder phage effectiveness. Innovative strategies, such as combining different phages into cocktails, have been explored to address these challenges. This review delves into these defence mechanisms and their impact at each stage of the infection cycle, their challenges, and the strategies phages have developed to counteract them. Additionally, we examine the role of phage cocktails in the evolving landscape of antibacterial treatments and discuss recent studies that highlight the effectiveness of diverse phage cocktails in targeting essential bacterial receptors and combating resistant strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Costa
- CESAM, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
| | - Carla Pereira
- CESAM, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
| | - Jesús L Romalde
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, CRETUS & CIBUS - Faculty of Biology, University of Santiago de Compostela, CP 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
| | - Adelaide Almeida
- CESAM, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
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2
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Martinho I, Braz M, Duarte J, Brás A, Oliveira V, Gomes NCM, Pereira C, Almeida A. The Potential of Phage Treatment to Inactivate Planktonic and Biofilm-Forming Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Microorganisms 2024; 12:1795. [PMID: 39338470 PMCID: PMC11433742 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12091795] [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: 08/07/2024] [Revised: 08/18/2024] [Accepted: 08/20/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common cause of hospital-acquired infections and exhibits a strong resistance to antibiotics. An alternative treatment option for bacterial infections is the use of bacteriophages (or phages). In this study, two distinct phages, VB_PaD_phPA-G (phPA-G) and VB_PaN_phPA-Intesti (phPA-Intesti), were used as single suspensions or in a phage cocktail to inactivate the planktonic cells and biofilms of P. aeruginosa. Preliminary experiments in culture medium showed that phage phPA-Intesti (reductions of 4.5-4.9 log CFU/mL) outperformed phPA-G (reductions of 0.6-2.6 log CFU/mL) and the phage cocktail (reduction of 4.2 log CFU/mL). Phage phPA-Intesti caused a maximum reduction of 5.5 log CFU/cm2 in the P. aeruginosa biofilm in urine after 4 h of incubation. The combination of phage phPA-Intesti and ciprofloxacin did not improve the efficacy of bacterial inactivation nor reduce the development of resistant mutants. However, the development of resistant bacteria was lower in the combined treatment with the phage and the antibiotic compared to treatment with the antibiotic alone. This phage lacks known toxins, virulence, antibiotic resistance, and integrase genes. Overall, the results suggest that the use of phage phPA-Intesti could be a potential approach to control urinary tract infections (UTIs), namely those caused by biofilm-producing and multidrug-resistant strains of P. aeruginosa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inês Martinho
- Department of Biology and CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Márcia Braz
- Department of Biology and CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - João Duarte
- Department of Biology and CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Ana Brás
- Department of Biology and CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Vanessa Oliveira
- Department of Biology and CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Newton C M Gomes
- Department of Biology and CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Carla Pereira
- Department of Biology and CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Adelaide Almeida
- Department of Biology and CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
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3
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Ulrich L, Steiner LX, Giez C, Lachnit T. Optimizing bacteriophage treatment of resistant Pseudomonas. mSphere 2024; 9:e0070723. [PMID: 38934592 PMCID: PMC11288017 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00707-23] [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: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Phage therapy is increasing in relevance as an alternative treatment to combat antibiotic resistant bacteria. Phage cocktails are the state-of-the-art method of administering phages in clinical settings, preferred over monophage treatment because of their ability to eliminate multiple bacterial strains and reduce resistance formation. In our study, we compare monophage applications and phage cocktails to our chosen method of phage sequential treatments. To do so, we isolated four novel bacteriophages capable of infecting Pseudomonas alcaligenes T3, a close relative of P. aeruginosa, and characterized them using sequencing and transmission electron microscopy. While investigating monophage treatments, we observed that different phage concentrations had a strong impact on the timing and amount of resistance formation. When using phage cocktails, we observed that P. alcaligenes were capable of forming resistance in the same timespan it took them to become resistant to single phages. We isolated mutants resistant to each single phage as well as mutants exposed to phage cocktails, resulting in bacteria resistant to all four phages at once. Sequencing these mutants showed that different treatments yielded unique single nucleotide polymorphism mutation patterns. In order to combat resistance formation, we added phages one by one in intervals of 24 h, thus managing to delay resistance development and keeping bacterial growth significantly lower compared to phage cocktails.IMPORTANCEWHO declared antimicrobial resistance a top threat to global health; while antibiotics have stood at the forefront in the fight against bacterial infection, the increasing number of multidrug-resistant bacteria highlights a need to branch out in order to address the threat of antimicrobial resistance. Bacteriophages, viruses solely infecting bacteria, could present a solution due to their abundance, versatility, and adaptability. For this study, we isolated new phages infecting a fast-mutating Pseudomonas alcaligenes strain capable of forming resistance within 30 h. By using a sequential treatment approach of adding one phage after another, we were able to curb bacterial growth significantly more compared to state-of-the-art phage cocktails.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Ulrich
- Zoological Institute, Christian-Albrechts Universität zu Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Leon X. Steiner
- RD3 Marine Ecology, RU Marine Symbioses, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research, Kiel, Germany
| | - Christoph Giez
- Zoological Institute, Christian-Albrechts Universität zu Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Tim Lachnit
- Zoological Institute, Christian-Albrechts Universität zu Kiel, Kiel, Germany
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Azari R, Yousefi MH, Fallah AA, Alimohammadi A, Nikjoo N, Wagemans J, Berizi E, Hosseinzadeh S, Ghasemi M, Mousavi Khaneghah A. Controlling of foodborne pathogen biofilms on stainless steel by bacteriophages: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Biofilm 2024; 7:100170. [PMID: 38234712 PMCID: PMC10793095 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioflm.2023.100170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
This study investigates the potential of using bacteriophages to control foodborne pathogen biofilms on stainless steel surfaces in the food industry. Biofilm-forming bacteria can attach to stainless steel surfaces, rendering them difficult to eradicate even after a thorough cleaning and sanitizing procedures. Bacteriophages have been proposed as a possible solution, as they can penetrate biofilms and destroy bacterial cells within, reducing the number of viable bacteria and preventing the growth and spread of biofilms. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates the potential of bacteriophages against different biofilm-forming foodborne bacteria, including Cronobacter sakazakii, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Listeria monocytogenes. Bacteriophage treatment generally causes a significant average reduction of 38 % in biofilm formation of foodborne pathogens on stainless steel. Subgroup analyses revealed that phages are more efficient in long-duration treatment. Also, applying a cocktail of phages is 1.26-fold more effective than applying individual phages. Phages at concentrations exceeding 107 PFU/ml are significantly more efficacious in eradicating bacteria within a biofilm. The antibacterial phage activity decreases substantially by 3.54-fold when applied at 4 °C compared to temperatures above 25 °C. This analysis suggests that bacteriophages can be a promising solution for controlling biofilms in the food industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahim Azari
- Department of Food Hygiene and Quality Control, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hashem Yousefi
- Department of Food Hygiene and Public Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, 71946-84471, Iran
| | - Aziz A. Fallah
- Department of Food Hygiene and Quality Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, 34141, Iran
| | - Arezoo Alimohammadi
- Department of Food Hygiene and Quality Control, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Nastaran Nikjoo
- Department of Food Hygiene and Quality Control, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | | | - Enayat Berizi
- Department of Food Hygiene and Quality Control, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Saeid Hosseinzadeh
- Department of Food Hygiene and Public Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, 71946-84471, Iran
| | - Mohammad Ghasemi
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shahrekord University, P. O. Box 115, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Amin Mousavi Khaneghah
- Food Health Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
- Department of Fruit and Vegetable Product Technology, Prof. Wacław Dąbrowski Institute of Agricultural and Food Biotechnology—State Research Institute, 36 Rakowiecka St., 02-532, Warsaw, Poland
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5
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Tadeu AD, Duarte J, Trindade D, Costa P, Venâncio C, Lopes I, Oliveira V, Gomes NCM, Almeida A, Pereira C. Bacteriophages to control Vibrio alginolyticus in live feeds prior to their administration in larviculture. J Appl Microbiol 2024; 135:lxae115. [PMID: 38710582 DOI: 10.1093/jambio/lxae115] [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: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
AIMS This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of two phages [VB_VaC_TDDLMA (phage TDD) and VB_VaC_SRILMA (phage SRI)] alone and in a cocktail to control Vibrio alginolyticus in brine shrimp before their administration in larviculture. METHODS AND RESULTS Phages were isolated from seawater samples and characterized by host spectrum, growth parameters, adsorption rate, genomic analysis, and inactivation efficiency. Both phages belong to the Caudoviricetes class and lack known virulence or antibiotic-resistance genes. They exhibit specificity, infecting only their host, V. alginolyticus CECT 521. Preliminary experiments in a culture medium showed that phage TDD (reduction of 5.8 log CFU ml-1 after 10 h) outperformed phage SRI (reduction of 4.6 log CFU ml-1 after 6 h) and the cocktail TDD/SRI (reduction of 5.2 log CFU ml-1 after 8 h). In artificial marine water experiments with Artemia franciscana, both single phage suspensions and the phage cocktail, effectively inactivated V. alginolyticus in culture water (reduction of 4.3, 2.1, and 1.9 log CFU ml-1 for phages TDD, SRI, and the phage cocktail, respectively, after 12 h) and in A. franciscana (reduction of 51.6%, 87.3%, and 85.3% for phages TDD, SRI, and the phage cocktail, respectively, after 24 h). The two phages and the phage cocktail did not affect A. franciscana natural microbiota or other Vibrio species in the brine shrimp. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that phages can safely and effectively control V. alginolyticus in A. franciscana prior to its administration in larviculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Dias Tadeu
- Department of Biology and CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - João Duarte
- Department of Biology and CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - David Trindade
- Department of Biology and CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Pedro Costa
- Department of Biology and CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Cátia Venâncio
- Department of Biology and CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Isabel Lopes
- Department of Biology and CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Vanessa Oliveira
- Department of Biology and CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Newton C M Gomes
- Department of Biology and CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Adelaide Almeida
- Department of Biology and CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Carla Pereira
- Department of Biology and CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
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Rubio-Portillo E, Robertson S, Antón J. Coral mucus as a reservoir of bacteriophages targeting Vibrio pathogens. THE ISME JOURNAL 2024; 18:wrae017. [PMID: 38366190 PMCID: PMC10945359 DOI: 10.1093/ismejo/wrae017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
The increasing trend in sea surface temperature promotes the spread of Vibrio species, which are known to cause diseases in a wide range of marine organisms. Among these pathogens, Vibrio mediterranei has emerged as a significant threat, leading to bleaching in the coral species Oculina patagonica. Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that infect bacteria, thereby regulating microbial communities and playing a crucial role in the coral's defense against pathogens. However, our understanding of phages that infect V. mediterranei is limited. In this study, we identified two phage species capable of infecting V. mediterranei by utilizing a combination of cultivation and metagenomic approaches. These phages are low-abundance specialists within the coral mucus layer that exhibit rapid proliferation in the presence of their hosts, suggesting a potential role in coral defense. Additionally, one of these phages possesses a conserved domain of a leucine-rich repeat protein, similar to those harbored in the coral genome, that plays a key role in pathogen recognition, hinting at potential coral-phage coevolution. Furthermore, our research suggests that lytic Vibrio infections could trigger prophage induction, which may disseminate genetic elements, including virulence factors, in the coral mucus layer. Overall, our findings underscore the importance of historical coral-phage interactions as a form of coral immunity against invasive Vibrio pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther Rubio-Portillo
- Department of Physiology, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Alicante, Alicante 03690, Spain
| | - Sophia Robertson
- Department of Physiology, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Alicante, Alicante 03690, Spain
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, United States
| | - Josefa Antón
- Department of Physiology, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Alicante, Alicante 03690, Spain
- Multidisciplinary Institute of Environmental Studies Ramon Margalef, Alicante 03690, Spain
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Torkashvand N, Kamyab H, Shahverdi AR, Khoshayand MR, Sepehrizadeh Z. Isolation, characterization, and genome analysis of a broad host range Salmonella phage vB_SenS_TUMS_E4: a candidate bacteriophage for biocontrol. Vet Res Commun 2023; 47:1493-1503. [PMID: 37097546 DOI: 10.1007/s11259-023-10105-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023]
Abstract
Salmonella enteritidis is one of the most important foodborne pathogens that cause numerous outbreaks worldwide. Some strains of Salmonella have become progressively resistant to antibiotics, so they could represent a critical threat to public health and have led to the use of alternative therapeutic approaches like phage therapy. In this study, a lytic phage, vB_SenS_TUMS_E4 (E4), was isolated from poultry effluent and characterized to evaluate its potential and efficacy for bio-controlling S. enteritidis in foods. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that E4 has a siphovirus morphotype, with an isometric head and non-contractile tail. Determining the host range showed that this phage can effectively infect different motile as well as non-motile Salmonella enterica serovars. The biological characteristics of E4 showed that it has a short latent period of about 15 min and a large burst size of 287 PFU/cell, and is also significantly stable in a broad range of pHs and temperatures. The E4 whole genome contains 43,018 bp and encodes 60 coding sequences (CDSs) but no tRNA genes. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that the genome of E4 lacks any genes related to lysogeny behavior, antibiotic resistance, toxins, or virulence factors. The efficacy of phage E4 as a bio-control agent was assessed in various foodstuffs inoculated with S. enteritidis at 4°C and 25°C, and the resulting data indicated that it could eradicate S. enteritidis after a very short time of 15 min. The findings of the present study showed that E4 is a hopeful candidate as a bio-control agent against S. enteritidis and has the potential to be used in various foodstuffs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Narges Torkashvand
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy & Biotechnology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, PO Box 14155-6451, Iran
| | - Haniyeh Kamyab
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy & Biotechnology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, PO Box 14155-6451, Iran
| | - Ahmad Reza Shahverdi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy & Biotechnology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, PO Box 14155-6451, Iran
| | - Mohammad Reza Khoshayand
- Department of Food and Drug Control, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zargham Sepehrizadeh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy & Biotechnology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, PO Box 14155-6451, Iran.
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Molina-Quiroz RC, Silva-Valenzuela CA. Interactions of Vibrio phages and their hosts in aquatic environments. Curr Opin Microbiol 2023; 74:102308. [PMID: 37062175 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2023.102308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/18/2023]
Abstract
Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that specifically infect bacteria. These viruses were discovered a century ago and have been used as a model system in microbial genetics and molecular biology. In order to survive, bacteria have to quickly adapt to phage challenges in their natural settings. In turn, phages continuously develop/evolve mechanisms for battling host defenses. A deeper understanding of the arms race between bacteria and phages is essential for the rational design of phage-based prophylaxis and therapies to prevent and treat bacterial infections. Vibrio species and their phages (vibriophages) are a suitable model to study these interactions. Phages are highly ubiquitous in aquatic environments and Vibrio are waterborne bacteria that must survive the constant attack by phages for successful transmission to their hosts. Here, we review relevant literature from the past two years to delve into the molecular interactions of Vibrio species and their phages in aquatic niches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto C Molina-Quiroz
- Stuart B. Levy Center for Integrated Management of Antimicrobial Resistance (Levy CIMAR), Tufts Medical Center and Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA
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9
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Development and Evaluation of Bacteriophage Cocktail to Eradicate Biofilms Formed by an Extensively Drug-Resistant (XDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Viruses 2023; 15:v15020427. [PMID: 36851640 PMCID: PMC9965693 DOI: 10.3390/v15020427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 01/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Extensive and multiple drug resistance in P. aeruginosa combined with the formation of biofilms is responsible for its high persistence in nosocomial infections. A sequential method to devise a suitable phage cocktail with a broad host range and high lytic efficiency against a biofilm forming XDR P. aeruginosa strain is presented here. Out of a total thirteen phages isolated against P. aeruginosa, five were selected on the basis of their high lytic spectra assessed using spot assay and productivity by efficiency of plating assay. Phages, after selection, were tested individually and in combinations of two-, three-, four-, and five-phage cocktails using liquid infection model. Out of total 22 combinations tested, the cocktail comprising four phages viz. φPA170, φPA172, φPA177, and φPA180 significantly inhibited the bacterial growth in liquid infection model (p < 0.0001). The minimal inhibitory dose of each phage in a cocktail was effectively reduced to >10 times than the individual dose in the inhibition of XDR P. aeruginosa host. Field emission-scanning electron microscopy was used to visualize phage cocktail mediated eradication of 4-day-old multi-layers of XDR P. aeruginosa biofilms from urinary catheters and glass cover slips, and was confirmed by absence of any viable cells. Differential bacterial inhibition was observed with different phage combinations where multiple phages were found to enhance the cocktail's lytic range, but the addition of too many phages reduced the overall inhibition. This study elaborates an effective and sequential method for the preparation of a phage cocktail and evaluates its antimicrobial potential against biofilm forming XDR strains of P. aeruginosa.
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10
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Jo SJ, Kim SG, Lee YM, Giri SS, Kang JW, Lee SB, Jung WJ, Hwang MH, Park J, Cheng C, Roh E, Park SC. Evaluation of the Antimicrobial Potential and Characterization of Novel T7-Like Erwinia Bacteriophages. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:biology12020180. [PMID: 36829459 PMCID: PMC9953017 DOI: 10.3390/biology12020180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
The recent outbreak of blight in pome fruit plants has been a major concern as there are two indistinguishable Erwinia species, Erwinia amylovora and E. pyrifoliae, which cause blight in South Korea. Although there is a strict management protocol consisting of antibiotic-based prevention, the area and the number of cases of outbreaks have increased. In this study, we isolated four bacteriophages, pEp_SNUABM_03, 04, 11, and 12, that infect both E. amylovora and E. pyrifoliae and evaluated their potential as antimicrobial agents for administration against Erwinia-originated blight in South Korea. Morphological analysis revealed that all phages had podovirus-like capsids. The phage cocktail showed a broad spectrum of infectivity, infecting 98.91% of E. amylovora and 100% of E. pyrifoliae strains. The antibacterial effect was observed after long-term cocktail treatment against E. amylovora, whereas it was observed for both short- and long-term treatments against E. pyrifoliae. Genomic analysis verified that the phages did not encode harmful genes such as antibiotic resistance or virulence genes. All phages were stable under general orchard conditions. Collectively, we provided basic data on the potential of phages as biocontrol agents that target both E. amylovora and E. pyrifoliae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su Jin Jo
- Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Guen Kim
- Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Min Lee
- Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Sib Sankar Giri
- Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong Woo Kang
- Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Bin Lee
- Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Won Joon Jung
- Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Mae Hyun Hwang
- Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaehong Park
- Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Chi Cheng
- Laboratory of Aquatic Nutrition and Ecology, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Eunjung Roh
- Crop Protection Division, National Institute of Agriculture Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Wanju 55365, Republic of Korea
| | - Se Chang Park
- Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-2-880-1282; Fax: +82-2-873-1213
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11
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Molina-Quiroz RC, Camilli A, Silva-Valenzuela CA. Role of Bacteriophages in the Evolution of Pathogenic Vibrios and Lessons for Phage Therapy. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2023; 1404:149-173. [PMID: 36792875 PMCID: PMC10587905 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-22997-8_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
Viruses of bacteria, i.e., bacteriophages (or phages for short), were discovered over a century ago and have played a major role as a model system for the establishment of the fields of microbial genetics and molecular biology. Despite the relative simplicity of phages, microbiologists are continually discovering new aspects of their biology including mechanisms for battling host defenses. In turn, novel mechanisms of host defense against phages are being discovered at a rapid clip. A deeper understanding of the arms race between bacteria and phages will continue to reveal novel molecular mechanisms and will be important for the rational design of phage-based prophylaxis and therapies to prevent and treat bacterial infections, respectively. Here we delve into the molecular interactions of Vibrio species and phages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto C Molina-Quiroz
- Stuart B. Levy Center for Integrated Management of Antimicrobial Resistance (Levy CIMAR), Tufts Medical Center and Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Andrew Camilli
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University, School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
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Li X, Liang Y, Wang Z, Yao Y, Chen X, Shao A, Lu L, Dang H. Isolation and Characterization of a Novel Vibrio natriegens—Infecting Phage and Its Potential Therapeutic Application in Abalone Aquaculture. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11111670. [PMID: 36421384 PMCID: PMC9687132 DOI: 10.3390/biology11111670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Phage-based pathogen control (i.e., phage therapy) has received increasing scientific attention to reduce and prevent the emergence, transmission, and detrimental effects of antibiotic resistance. In the current study, multidrug-resistant Vibrio natriegens strain AbY-1805 was isolated and tentatively identified as a pathogen causing the death of juvenile Pacific abalones (Haliotis discus hannai Ino). In order to apply phage therapy, instead of antibiotics, to treat and control V. natriegens infections in marine aquaculture environments, a lytic phage, vB_VnaS-L3, was isolated. It could effectively infect V. natriegens AbY-1805 with a short latent period (40 min) and high burst size (~890 PFU/cell). Treatment with vB_VnaS-L3 significantly reduced the mortality of juvenile abalones and maintained abalone feeding capacity over a 40-day V. natriegens challenge experiment. Comparative genomic and phylogenetic analyses suggested that vB_VnaS-L3 was a novel marine Siphoviridae-family phage. Furthermore, vB_VnaS-L3 had a narrow host range, possibly specific to the pathogenic V. natriegens strains. It also exhibited viability at a wide range of pH, temperature, and salinity. The short latent period, large burst size, high host specificity, and broad environmental adaptation suggest that phage vB_VnaS-L3 could potentially be developed as an alternative antimicrobial for the control and prevention of marine animal infections caused by pathogenic V. natriegens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuejing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Fujian Key Laboratory of Marine Carbon Sequestration, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Yantao Liang
- College of Marine Life Sciences, Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Zhenhua Wang
- Weihai Changqing Ocean Science Technology Co., Ltd., Weihai 264316, China
| | - Yanyan Yao
- Weihai Changqing Ocean Science Technology Co., Ltd., Weihai 264316, China
| | - Xiaoli Chen
- Weihai Changqing Ocean Science Technology Co., Ltd., Weihai 264316, China
| | - Anran Shao
- Weihai Changqing Ocean Science Technology Co., Ltd., Weihai 264316, China
| | - Longfei Lu
- Weihai Changqing Ocean Science Technology Co., Ltd., Weihai 264316, China
- Correspondence: (L.L.); (H.D.)
| | - Hongyue Dang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Fujian Key Laboratory of Marine Carbon Sequestration, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
- Correspondence: (L.L.); (H.D.)
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Kim SG, Lee SB, Jo SJ, Cho K, Park JK, Kwon J, Giri SS, Kim SW, Kang JW, Jung WJ, Lee YM, Roh E, Park SC. Phage Cocktail in Combination with Kasugamycin as a Potential Treatment for Fire Blight Caused by Erwinia amylovora. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:1566. [PMID: 36358221 PMCID: PMC9686651 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11111566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, there has been an increasing number of blight disease reports associated with Erwinia amylovora and Erwinia pyrifoliae in South Korea. Current management protocols that have been conducted with antibiotics have faced resistance problems and the outbreak has not decreased. Because of this concern, the present study aimed to provide an alternative method to control the invasive fire blight outbreak in the nation using bacteriophages (phages) in combination with an antibiotic agent (kasugamycin). Among 54 phage isolates, we selected five phages, pEa_SNUABM_27, 31, 32, 47, and 48, based on their bacteriolytic efficacy. Although only phage pEa_SNUABM_27 showed host specificity for E. amylovora, all five phages presented complementary lytic potential that improved the host infectivity coverage of each phage All the phages in the cocktail solution could lyse phage-resistant strains. These strains had a decreased tolerance to the antibiotic kasugamycin, and a synergistic effect of phages and antibiotics was demonstrated both in vitro and on immature wound-infected apples. It is noteworthy that the antibacterial effect of the phage cocktail or phage cocktail-sub-minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of kasugamycin was significantly higher than the kasugamycin at the MIC. The selected phages were experimentally stable under environmental factors such as thermal or pH stress. Genomic analysis revealed these are novel Erwinia-infecting phages, and did not encode antibiotic-, virulence-, or lysogenic phage-related genes. In conclusion, we suggest the potential of the phage cocktail and kasugamycin combination as an effective strategy that would minimize the use of antibiotics, which are being excessively used in order to control fire blight pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang-Guen Kim
- Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Sung-Bin Lee
- Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Su-Jin Jo
- Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Kevin Cho
- Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Jung-Kum Park
- Crop Protection Division, National Institute of Agriculture Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Wanju 55365, Korea
| | - Jun Kwon
- Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Sib Sankar Giri
- Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Sang-Wha Kim
- Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Jeong-Woo Kang
- Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Won-Joon Jung
- Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Young-Min Lee
- Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Eunjung Roh
- Crop Protection Division, National Institute of Agriculture Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Wanju 55365, Korea
| | - Se-Chang Park
- Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
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Efficacy of Repeated Applications of Bacteriophages on Salmonella enterica-Infected Alfalfa Sprouts during Germination. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11101156. [PMID: 36297213 PMCID: PMC9610501 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11101156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 10/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Nontyphoidal Salmonella enterica is one of the leading pathogens for foodborne outbreaks in a multitude of food commodities, including alfalfa sprouts, which are commonly consumed raw. The food industry has commonly used chlorinated washes, but such methods may not be perceived as natural; this can be a detriment as a large portion of sprouts are designated for the organic market. A natural and affordable antimicrobial method that has been acquiring popularity is the use of bacteriophages. This study compared the efficacy of repeated daily applications and a single application of two separate bacteriophage cocktails (SE14, SE20, SF6 and SE14, SF5, SF6) against four Salmonella enterica (S. enterica) strains on germinating alfalfa sprout seeds from days 0 to 7. The results show S. Enteritidis to be the most susceptible to both cocktails with ~2.5 log CFU/mL decrease on day 0 with cocktail SE14, SF5, and SF6. S. enterica populations on all strains continued to grow even with repeated daily bacteriophage applications but in a significantly decreased rate (p < 0.05) compared with a single bacteriophage application. The extent of the reduction was dependent on the S. enterica strain, but the results do show benefits to using repeated bacteriophage applications during sprout germination to reduce S. enterica populations compared with a single bacteriophage application.
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15
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Zhou A, Xie S, Tang H, Zhang L, Zhang Y, Zuo Z, Li X, Zhao W, Xu G, Zou J. The dynamic of the potential pathogenic bacteria, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and antibiotic resistance genes in the water at different growth stages of grass carp pond. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:23806-23822. [PMID: 34817812 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-17578-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Pond aquaculture has become the most important and broadest breeding model in China, and an extremely important source of aquatic products, but the potential hazard factors of potential pathogenic bacteria (PPB), antibiotic resistance bacteria (ARB), and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in aquaculture environment are largely invisible. In the present study, the bacterial communities in the larvae, juvenile, rearing, and harvesting culture stages of great grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) ponds were investigated and the structure of microbial flora analysis showed that the larvae culture stage has the highest abundance and the most dominant phyla were Proteobacteria (27.8%). A total of 123 significant Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway annotations and the relative abundance of nine bacterial phenotypes implied that the larvae culture stage had the most abundance of pathogenic potential and mobile elements. The correlation analyses of environmental factors showed that temperature, stocking density, pH, and transparency showed the significant impacts on both the distribution of microbiome and the PPB. More importantly, a total of 40 ARB were identified, and 16 ARGs have the detection rates of 100%, which revealed that they are widely distributed and highly enriched in the aquaculture production. Notably, this is the first robust report to analyze and understand the PPB, ARB, and ARGs characteristics and dynamic changes in the pond aquaculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aiguo Zhou
- University Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency, 93 Mount Edward Road, Charlottetown, PEI, C1A 5T1, Canada
| | - Shaolin Xie
- University Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Huijuan Tang
- University Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Li Zhang
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- Departments of Neurology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA
| | - Zhiheng Zuo
- University Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Xiang Li
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency, 93 Mount Edward Road, Charlottetown, PEI, C1A 5T1, Canada
| | - Wenyu Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Dongting Lake Aquatic Eco-Environmental Control and Restoration of Hunan Province, School of Hydraulic Engineering, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha, 410114, China
| | - Guohuan Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Culture Collection and Application, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510070, China.
| | - Jixing Zou
- University Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
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16
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A phage cocktail in controlling phage resistance development in multidrug resistant Aeromonas hydrophila with great therapeutic potential. Microb Pathog 2021; 162:105374. [PMID: 34968644 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2021.105374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 12/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Aeromonas hydrophila (A. hydrophila) is an opportunistic pathogen of fish-human-livestock, which poses a threat to the development of aquaculture. Lytic phage has long been considered as an effective bactericidal agent. However, the rapid development of phage resistance seriously hinders the continuous application of lytic phages. In our study, a new bacteriophage vB_ AhaP_PZL-Ah8 was isolated from sewage and its characteristics and genome were investigated. Phage vB_ AhaP_PZL-Ah8 has been classified as the member of the Podoviridae family, which exhibited the latent period was about 30 min. As revealed from the genomic sequence analysis, vB_ AhaP_PZL-Ah8 covered a double-stranded genome of 40,855 bp (exhibiting 51.89% G + C content), with encoding 52 predicted open reading frames (ORFs). The results suggested that the combination of vB_ AhaP_PZL-Ah8 and another A. hydrophila phage vB_ AhaP_PZL-Ah1 could improve the therapeutic efficacy both in vitro and in vivo. The resistance mutation frequency of A. hydrophila cells infected with the mixture phage (vB_ AhaP_PZL-Ah8+ vB_ AhaP_PZL-Ah1) was significantly lower than cells treated with single phage (P <0.01). Phage therapy in vivo showed that the survival rate in the mixture phage treatment group was significantly higher than that in single phage treatment group.
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17
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Coral holobionts and biotechnology: from Blue Economy to coral reef conservation. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2021; 74:110-121. [PMID: 34861476 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2021.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Corals are of ecological and economic importance, providing habitat for species and contributing to coastal protection, fisheries, and tourism. Their biotechnological potential is also increasingly recognized. Particularly, the production of pharmaceutically interesting compounds by corals and their microbial associates stimulated natural product-based drug discovery. The efficient light distribution by coral skeletons for optimal photosynthesis by algal symbionts has led to 3D-printed bionic corals that may be used to upscale micro-algal cultivation for bioenergy generation. However, corals are under threat from climate change and pollution, and biotechnological approaches to increase their resilience, like 'probiotics' and 'assisted evolution', are being evaluated. In this review, we summarize the recent biotechnological developments related to corals with an emphasis on coral conservation, drug discovery and bioenergy.
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18
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The Characterization of a Novel Phage, pPa_SNUABM_DT01, Infecting Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9102040. [PMID: 34683360 PMCID: PMC8541153 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9102040] [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: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The bacterial genus Pseudomonas is a common causative agent of infections in veterinary medicine. In this study, we focused on Pseudomonas aeruginosa canine otitis externa isolates. Due to prolonged antibiotic treatment of otitis externa, antibiotic resistance is common and has become a major complication. Many alternatives to antibiotics have been studied, with bacteriophages emerging as the most promising alternatives. Here, we isolated and characterized a novel phage, pPa_SNUABM_DT01, by investigating its morphology, growth, lysis kinetics, and genomic characteristics. Phages have a vigorous capacity to eliminate bacterial cells through bacterial lysis. This capacity is dependent on the multiplicity of infection (MOI), but even at low MOIs, the phage successfully inhibited bacterial regrowth. The phage genome was 265,520 bp in size and comprised 312 putative open reading frames (ORFs). Comparative genome analysis demonstrated that the phage is a novel species in Myoviridae. The nucleotide similarity was moderately high compared with the Pseudomonas virus, Noxifer. However, a phylogenetic analysis and a dot plot indicated that pPa_SNUABM_DT01 is not closely related to the Phikzvirus or Noxifervirus genus but, instead, belongs to a novel one. The genome comparisons also indicate that the phage, pPa_SNUABM_DT01, could be a novel genus.
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19
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Bacteriophages against Vibrio coralliilyticus and Vibrio tubiashii: Isolation, Characterization, and Remediation of Larval Oyster Mortalities. Appl Environ Microbiol 2021; 87:AEM.00008-21. [PMID: 33674441 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00008-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Vibrio coralliilyticus and Vibrio tubiashii are pathogens responsible for high larval oyster mortality rates in shellfish hatcheries. Bacteriophage therapy was evaluated to determine its potential to remediate these mortalities. Sixteen phages against V. coralliilyticus and V. tubiashii were isolated and characterized from Hawaiian seawater. Fourteen isolates were members of the Myoviridae family, and two were members of the Siphoviridae In proof-of-principle trials, a cocktail of five phages reduced mortalities of larval Eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) and Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) by up to 91% 6 days after challenge with lethal doses of V. coralliilyticus Larval survival depended on the oyster species, the quantities of phages and vibrios applied, and the species and strain of Vibrio A later-generation cocktail, designated VCP300, was formulated with three lytic phages subsequently named Vibrio phages vB_VcorM-GR7B, vB_VcorM-GR11A, and vB_VcorM-GR28A (abbreviated 7B, 11A, and 28A, respectively). Together, these three phages displayed host specificity toward eight V. coralliilyticus strains and a V. tubiashii strain. Larval C. gigas mortalities from V. coralliilyticus strains RE98 and OCN008 were significantly reduced by >90% (P < 0.0001) over 6 days with phage treatment compared to those of untreated controls. Genomic sequencing of phages 7B, 11A, and 28A revealed 207,758-, 194,800-, and 154,046-bp linear DNA genomes, respectively, with the latter showing 92% similarity to V. coralliilyticus phage YC, a strain from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Phage 7B and 11A genomes showed little similarity to phages in the NCBI database. This study demonstrates the promising potential for phage therapy to reduce larval oyster mortalities in oyster hatcheries.IMPORTANCE Shellfish hatcheries encounter episodic outbreaks of larval oyster mortalities, jeopardizing the economic stability of hatcheries and the commercial shellfish industry. Shellfish pathogens like Vibrio coralliilyticus and Vibrio tubiashii have been recognized as major contributors of larval oyster mortalities in U.S. East and West Coast hatcheries for many years. This study isolated, identified, and characterized bacteriophages against these Vibrio species and demonstrated their ability to reduce mortalities from V. coralliilyticus in larval Pacific oysters and from both V. coralliilyticus and V. tubiashii in larval Eastern oysters. Phage therapy offers a promising approach for stimulating hatchery production to ensure the well-being of hatcheries and the commercial oyster trade.
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Tan CW, Rukayadi Y, Hasan H, Abdul-Mutalib NA, Jambari NN, Hara H, Thung TY, Lee E, Radu S. Isolation and Characterization of Six Vibrio parahaemolyticus Lytic Bacteriophages From Seafood Samples. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:616548. [PMID: 33776954 PMCID: PMC7987779 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.616548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a foodborne pathogen that is frequently isolated from a variety of seafood. To control this pathogenic Vibrio spp., the implementation of bacteriophages in aquaculture and food industries have shown a promising alternative to antibiotics. In this study, six bacteriophages isolated from the seafood samples demonstrated a narrow host range specificity that infecting only the V. parahaemolyticus strains. Morphological analysis revealed that bacteriophages Vp33, Vp22, Vp21, and Vp02 belong to the Podoviridae family, while bacteriophages Vp08 and Vp11 were categorized into the Siphoviridae family. All bacteriophages were composed of DNA genome and showed distinctive restriction fragment length polymorphism. The optimal MOI for bacteriophage propagation was determined to be 0.001 to 1. One-step growth curve revealed that the latent period ranged from 10 to 20 min, and the burst size of bacteriophage was approximately 17 to 51 PFU/cell. The influence of temperature and pH levels on the stability of bacteriophages showed that all bacteriophages were optimally stable over a wide range of temperatures and pH levels. In vitro lytic activity of all bacteriophages demonstrated to have a significant effect against V. parahaemolyticus. Besides, the application of a bacteriophage cocktail instead of a single bacteriophage suspension was observed to have a better efficiency to control the growth of V. parahaemolyticus. Results from this study provided a basic understanding of the physiological and biological properties of the isolated bacteriophages before it can be readily used as a biocontrol agent against the growth of V. parahaemolyticus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia Wanq Tan
- Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Yaya Rukayadi
- Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Hanan Hasan
- Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Noor-Azira Abdul-Mutalib
- Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.,Food Safety and Food Integrity, Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security (ITAFoS), Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Nuzul Noorahya Jambari
- Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.,Food Safety and Food Integrity, Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security (ITAFoS), Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Hirofumi Hara
- Department of Environmental Engineering and Green Technology, Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Tze Young Thung
- Infection and Immunity Program, Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Epeng Lee
- Food Safety and Food Integrity, Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security (ITAFoS), Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Son Radu
- Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.,Food Safety and Food Integrity, Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security (ITAFoS), Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
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