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Bharathi Achudhan A, Saleena LM. Genomic reconstruction of unclassified microorganisms: Analysis of CRISPR arrays and genes involved in defense mechanisms. Gene 2024; 928:148808. [PMID: 39089531 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2024.148808] [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: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 07/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
The constant battle between bacteria and viruses has led to the development of sophisticated antiviral defense strategies by bacteria to defend themselves against phages. This study analyzed a marshland metagenome to identify and characterize bacterial antiviral defense systems and phage interactions. We assembled 210 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) from environmental DNA extracted from Pallikaranai marshland soil and 37 unclassified MAGs were filtered. MIMAG standards were followed, 2 high-quality and 15 medium-quality unclassified MAGs were picked. MINCED was used to identify 137 CRISPR arrays in the quality MAGs, and ViroBLAST was used to identify the phages that interact with the bacteria. About 242 spacer sequences were extracted from the CRISPR arrays, of which 54 had significant matches in the ViroBLAST database. 7 unverified bacteriophage species were also detected in the MAGs. The viral group of Caudoviricetes phage elements were identified as a frequent genome terminal repeat. The PADLOC identified 11 genes involved as a defense system in the MAGs. The PD-T4-6 defense system was found to be prevalent in 15 different unclassified MAGs. This study presents valuable insights intothe adaptations of unclassified bacteria to bacteriophages, as well as the genes used by these bacteria as a defense mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arunmozhi Bharathi Achudhan
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Bioengineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Lilly M Saleena
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Bioengineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu, India.
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Zou X, Mo Z, Wang L, Chen S, Lee SY. Overcoming Bacteriophage Contamination in Bioprocessing: Strategies and Applications. SMALL METHODS 2024:e2400932. [PMID: 39359025 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202400932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2024] [Revised: 09/14/2024] [Indexed: 10/04/2024]
Abstract
Bacteriophage contamination has a devastating impact on the viability of bacterial hosts and can significantly reduce the productivity of bioprocesses in biotechnological industries. The consequences range from widespread fermentation failure to substantial economic losses, highlighting the urgent need for effective countermeasures. Conventional prevention methods, which focus primarily on the physical removal of bacteriophages from equipment, bioprocess units, and the environment, have proven ineffective in preventing phage entry and contamination. The coevolutionary dynamics between phages and their bacterial hosts have spurred the development of a diverse repertoire of antiviral defense mechanisms within microbial communities. These naturally occurring defense strategies can be harnessed through genetic engineering to convert phage-sensitive hosts into robust, phage-resistant cell factories, providing a strategic approach to mitigate the threats posed by bacteriophages to industrial bacterial processes. In this review, an overview of the various defense strategies and immune systems that curb the propagation of bacteriophages and highlight their applications in fermentation bioprocesses to combat phage contamination is provided. Additionally, the tactics employed by phages to circumvent these defense strategies are also discussed, as preventing the emergence of phage escape mutants is a key component of effective contamination management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Zou
- Intensive Care Unit, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Microbiology in Genomic Modification & Editing and Application, Shenzhen Institute of Translational Medicine, Medical Innovation Technology Transformation Center of Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen Univeristy Medical School, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518035, China
- Metabolic and Biomolecular Engineering National Research Laboratory, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (BK21 four), KAIST Institute for BioCentury, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
- Synthetic Biology Research Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518035, China
| | - Ziran Mo
- Department of Respiratory Diseases, Institute of Pediatrics, Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518026, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hubei Clinical Center and Key Laboratory of Intestinal and Colorectal Disease, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery, Taikang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Lianrong Wang
- Department of Respiratory Diseases, Institute of Pediatrics, Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518026, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hubei Clinical Center and Key Laboratory of Intestinal and Colorectal Disease, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery, Taikang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Shi Chen
- Intensive Care Unit, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Microbiology in Genomic Modification & Editing and Application, Shenzhen Institute of Translational Medicine, Medical Innovation Technology Transformation Center of Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen Univeristy Medical School, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518035, China
- Synthetic Biology Research Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518035, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hubei Clinical Center and Key Laboratory of Intestinal and Colorectal Disease, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery, Taikang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Sang Yup Lee
- Metabolic and Biomolecular Engineering National Research Laboratory, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (BK21 four), KAIST Institute for BioCentury, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
- Systems Metabolic Engineering and Systems Healthcare Cross-Generation Collaborative Laboratory, KAIST, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
- BioProcess Engineering Research Center and BioInformatics Research Center, KAIST, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
- Graduate School of Engineering Biology, KAIST, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
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Karmakar S, Mukherjee P, Mishra V, Gupta RK, Kumar R, Srivastava P, Sharma RS. Microhabitat influences on phage-bacteria dynamics in an abandoned mine for ecorestoration. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 370:122659. [PMID: 39340888 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2024] [Revised: 09/22/2024] [Accepted: 09/23/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024]
Abstract
Understanding the complex interactions between bacteriophages (phages) and bacteria within varied environmental niches is critical yet underexplored for improving microbe-assisted ecological restoration. This study investigates the influence of microhabitat heterogeneity within an abandoned mine on phage-bacteria interaction patterns, focusing on Pseudomonas-enriched bacterial communities. By isolating viral communities and purifying bacteria from soils of three distinct microhabitats, we assessed the regulatory role of environmental factors on these interactions, crucial for bacterial success in environmental applications. We characterized microhabitat variability by analyzing soil particle size fractions, minerals composition, and elemental content using X-ray diffraction and energy-dispersive X-ray analyses. 16S rRNA sequencing and cross-infection assays revealed that although bacterial communities across different microhabitats are taxonomically similar, their interaction patterns with phages are distinct. Phage communities showed nonselective infectivity across soil types, while bacterial communities exhibited selective adaptation, facilitating colonization across diverse microhabitats. Minerals such as mica, kaolinite, and hematite were found to increase phage infectivity, whereas mixed-layer clay correlated with early lysis. Additionally, higher levels of iron (Fe) and potassium (K) were linked to bacterial resistance strategies. Our findings highlight the importance of understanding asymmetric adaptive strategies between bacteria and phages, driven by microhabitat heterogeneity, for enhancing microbial-mediated nature-based restoration of degraded ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swagata Karmakar
- Bioresources and Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India; Department of Environmental Studies, Ram Lal Anand College, University of Delhi, 110021, India
| | - Paromita Mukherjee
- Bioresources and Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India; Department of Environmental Science, Ramjas College, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India
| | - Vandana Mishra
- Bioresources and Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India; Centre for Inter-Disciplinary Studies of Mountain & Hill Environment (CISMHE), University of Delhi, Delhi, India; DDA Biodiversity Parks Programme, CEMDE, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India.
| | - Rakesh Kumar Gupta
- Department of Microbiology, Ram Lal Anand College, University of Delhi, 110021, India
| | - Rohit Kumar
- Department of Geology, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India
| | | | - Radhey Shyam Sharma
- Bioresources and Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India; Delhi School of Climate Change & Sustainability, Institute of Eminence, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India.
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Chang TH, Pourtois JD, Haddock NL, Furkuawa D, Kelly KE, Amanatullah DF, Burgener E, Milla C, Banaei N, Bollyky PL. Prophages are Infrequently Associated With Antibiotic Resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Clinical Isolates. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.02.595912. [PMID: 38895396 PMCID: PMC11185549 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.02.595912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a significant obstacle to the treatment of bacterial infections, including in the context of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Lysogenic bacteriophages can integrate their genome into the bacterial chromosome and are known to promote genetic transfer between bacterial strains. However, the contribution of lysogenic phages to the incidence of AMR is poorly understood. Here, in a set of 187 clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa collected from 82 patients with CF, we evaluate the links between prophages and both genomic and phenotypic resistance to five anti-pseudomonal antibiotics: tobramycin, colistin, ciprofloxacin, meropenem, aztreonam, and tazobactam. We find that P. aeruginosa isolates contain on average 3.06 +/-1.84 (SD) predicted prophages. We find no significant association between the number of prophages per isolate and the mean inhibitory concentration (MIC) for any of these antibiotics. We then investigate the relationship between particular prophages and AMR. We identify a single lysogenic phage that is associated with phenotypic resistance to the antibiotic tobramycin. Consistent with this association, we identify AMR genes associated with resistance to tobramycin in these strains and find that they are not encoded directly on prophage sequences. These findings suggest that prophages are infrequently associated with the AMR genes in clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa .
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Zhou Z, Keiblinger KM, Huang Y, Bhople P, Shi X, Yang S, Yu F, Liu D. Virome and metagenomic sequencing reveal the impact of microbial inoculants on suppressions of antibiotic resistome and viruses during co-composting. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 477:135355. [PMID: 39068883 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2024] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Co-composting with exogenous microbial inoculant, presents an effective approach for the harmless utilization of livestock manure and agroforestry wastes. However, the impact of inoculant application on the variations of viral and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) remains poorly understood, particularly under varying manure quantity (low 10 % vs. high 20 % w/w). Thus, employing virome and metagenomic sequencing, we examined the influence of Streptomyces-Bacillus Inoculants (SBI) on viral communities, phytopathogen, ARGs, mobile genetic elements, and their interrelations. Our results indicate that SBI shifted dominant bacterial species from Phenylobacterium to thermotropic Bordetella, and the quantity of manure mediates the effect of SBI on whole bacterial community. Major ARGs and genetic elements experienced substantial changes with SBI addition. There was a higher ARGs elimination rate in the composts with low (∼76 %) than those with high manure (∼70 %) application. Virus emerged as a critical factor influencing ARG dynamics. We observed a significant variation in virus community, transitioning from Gemycircularvirus- (∼95 %) to Chlamydiamicrovirus-dominance. RDA analysis revealed that Gemycircularvirus was the most influential taxon in shaping ARGs, with its abundance decreased approximately 80 % after composting. Collectively, these findings underscore the role of microbial inoculants in modulating virus communities and ARGs during biowaste co-composting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyan Zhou
- The Germplasm Bank of Wild Species & Yunnan Key Laboratory for Fungal Diversity and Green Development, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, China
| | - Katharina Maria Keiblinger
- Department of Forest and Soil Sciences, Institute of Soil Research, University of Natural Resources and Life-Sciences, Vienna 1190, Austria
| | - Yimei Huang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and The Agri-environment in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Low-carbon Green Agriculture in Northwestern China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Parag Bhople
- Crops, Environment, and Land Use Department, Environment Research Centre, Teagasc, Johnstown Castle, Wexford Y35TC98, Ireland
| | - Xiaofei Shi
- The Germplasm Bank of Wild Species & Yunnan Key Laboratory for Fungal Diversity and Green Development, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, China
| | - Shimei Yang
- The Germplasm Bank of Wild Species & Yunnan Key Laboratory for Fungal Diversity and Green Development, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, China
| | - Fuqiang Yu
- The Germplasm Bank of Wild Species & Yunnan Key Laboratory for Fungal Diversity and Green Development, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, China.
| | - Dong Liu
- The Germplasm Bank of Wild Species & Yunnan Key Laboratory for Fungal Diversity and Green Development, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, China.
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Ooi VY, Yeh TY. Recent Advances and Mechanisms of Phage-Based Therapies in Cancer Treatment. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:9938. [PMID: 39337427 PMCID: PMC11432602 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25189938] [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: 08/01/2024] [Revised: 09/07/2024] [Accepted: 09/12/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024] Open
Abstract
The increasing interest in bacteriophage technology has prompted its novel applications to treat different medical conditions, most interestingly cancer. Due to their high specificity, manipulability, nontoxicity, and nanosize nature, phages are promising carriers in targeted therapy and cancer immunotherapy. This approach is particularly timely, as current challenges in cancer research include damage to healthy cells, inefficiency in targeting, obstruction by biological barriers, and drug resistance. Some cancers are being kept at the forefront of phage research, such as colorectal cancer and HCC, while others like lymphoma, cervical cancer, and myeloma have not been retouched in a decade. Common mechanisms are immunogenic antigen display on phage coats and the use of phage as transporters to carry drugs, genes, and other molecules. To date, popular phage treatments being tested are gene therapy and phage-based vaccines using M13 and λ phage, with some vaccines having advanced to human clinical trials. The results from most of these studies have been promising, but limitations in phage-based therapies such as reticuloendothelial system clearance or diffusion inefficiency must be addressed. Before phage-based therapies for cancer can be successfully used in oncology practice, more in-depth research and support from local governments are required.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ting-Yu Yeh
- Agricultural Biotechnology Laboratory, Auxergen Inc., Riti Rossi Colwell Center, 701 E Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202, USA
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Addo MA, Zang Z, Gerdt JP. Chemical inhibition of cell surface modification sensitizes bacteria to phage infection. RSC Chem Biol 2024:d4cb00070f. [PMID: 39308478 PMCID: PMC11409987 DOI: 10.1039/d4cb00070f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2024] [Accepted: 09/13/2024] [Indexed: 09/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Many bacteriophages that infect Gram-positive bacteria rely on the bacterial cell surface polymer wall teichoic acid (WTA) as a receptor. However, some bacteria modulate their cell wall with d-alanine residues, which can disrupt phage adsorption. The prevalence and significance of WTA alanylation as an anti-phage defense is unknown. A chemical inhibitor of WTA d-alanylation could be employed to efficiently screen phage-host combinations for those that exhibit alanylation-dependent infections. Since the incorporation of d-alanine residues into the cell wall requires the activity of d-alanine:alanyl carrier protein ligase (DltA), a DltA inhibitor was employed as this tool. Herein, we found that a chemical probe inhibiting DltA activity impeded bacterial cell wall alanylation and enhanced infectivity of many phages against Bacillus subtilis, including phages Phi29, SPP1, SPO1, SP50, and Goe2. This finding reveals the breadth of immunity conferred by WTA alanylation in B. subtilis, which was previously known to impact only phages Phi29 and SPP1, but not SPO1, SP50, or Goe2. DltA inhibition selectively promoted infection by several phages that bind WTA, having no impact on the flagellotropic phage PBS1. Unexpectedly, DltA inhibition also had no effect on phage SP10, which binds to WTA. This selective chemical tool has the potential to unravel bacteriophage interactions with bacteria, leading to improved phage therapies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marian Aba Addo
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University Bloomington IN 47405 USA
| | - Zhiyu Zang
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University Bloomington IN 47405 USA
| | - Joseph P Gerdt
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University Bloomington IN 47405 USA
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Bernabéu-Gimeno M, Pardo-Freire M, Chan BK, Turner PE, Gil-Brusola A, Pérez-Tarazona S, Carrasco-Hernández L, Quintana-Gallego E, Domingo-Calap P. Neutralizing antibodies after nebulized phage therapy in cystic fibrosis patients. MED 2024; 5:1096-1111.e6. [PMID: 38917792 DOI: 10.1016/j.medj.2024.05.017] [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: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients are prone to recurrent multi-drug-resistant (MDR) bacterial lung infections. Under this scenario, phage therapy has been proposed as a promising tool. However, the limited number of reported cases hampers the understanding of clinical outcomes. Anti-phage immune responses have often been overlooked and only described following invasive routes of administration. METHODS Three monophage treatments against Staphylococcus aureus and/or Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infections were conducted in cystic fibrosis patients. In-house phage preparations were nebulized over 10 days with standard-of-care antibiotics. Clinical indicators, bacterial counts, phage and antibiotic susceptibility, phage detection, and immune responses were monitored. FINDINGS Bacterial load was reduced by 3-6 log in two of the treatments. No adverse events were described. Phages remained in sputum up to 33 days after completion of the treatment. In all cases, phage-neutralizing antibodies were detected in serum from 10 to 42 days post treatment, with this being the first report of anti-phage antibodies after nebulized therapy. CONCLUSIONS Nebulized phage therapy reduced bacterial load, improving quality of life even without bacterial eradication. The emergence of antibodies emphasizes the importance of long-term monitoring to better understand clinical outcomes. These findings encourage the use of personalized monophage therapies in contrast to ready-to-use cocktails, which might induce undesirable antibody generation. FUNDING This study was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities; Generalitat Valenciana; and a crowdfunding in collaboration with the Spanish Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mireia Bernabéu-Gimeno
- Institute for Integrative Systems Biology, University of Valencia-CSIC, 46980 Paterna, Spain
| | - Marco Pardo-Freire
- Institute for Integrative Systems Biology, University of Valencia-CSIC, 46980 Paterna, Spain
| | - Benjamin K Chan
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Center for Phage Biology and Therapy, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Paul E Turner
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Center for Phage Biology and Therapy, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Program in Microbiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Ana Gil-Brusola
- Microbiology Department, La Fe University and Polytechnic Hospital, 46026 Valencia, Spain; Severe Infection Research Group, Health Research Institute La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
| | - Santiago Pérez-Tarazona
- Pediatric Pulmonology Unit, La Fe University and Polytechnic Hospital, 46026 Valencia, Spain
| | - Laura Carrasco-Hernández
- Medical-Surgical Unit of Respiratory Diseases, Virgen del Rocío University Hospital, 41013 Sevilla, Spain; CIBER Respiratory Diseases (CIBERES), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Esther Quintana-Gallego
- Medical-Surgical Unit of Respiratory Diseases, Virgen del Rocío University Hospital, 41013 Sevilla, Spain; CIBER Respiratory Diseases (CIBERES), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Pilar Domingo-Calap
- Institute for Integrative Systems Biology, University of Valencia-CSIC, 46980 Paterna, Spain.
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Lauman P, Dennis JJ. Prophylactic phage biocontrol prevents Burkholderia gladioli infection in a quantitative ex planta model of bacterial virulence. Appl Environ Microbiol 2024:e0131724. [PMID: 39240081 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01317-24] [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: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 08/09/2024] [Indexed: 09/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Agricultural crop yield losses and food destruction due to infections by phytopathogenic bacteria such as Burkholderia gladioli, which causes devastating diseases in onion, mushroom, corn, and rice crops, pose major threats to worldwide food security and cause enormous damage to the global economy. Biocontrol using bacteriophages has emerged as a promising strategy against a number of phytopathogenic species but has never been attempted against B. gladioli due to a lack of quantitative infection models and a scarcity of phages targeting this specific pathogen. In this study, we present a novel, procedurally straightforward, and highly generalizable fully quantitative ex planta maceration model and an accompanying quantitative metric, the ex planta maceration index (xPMI). In utilizing this model to test the ex planta virulence of a panel of 12 strains of B. gladioli in Allium cepa and Agaricus bisporus, we uncover substantial temperature-, host-, and strain-dependent diversity in the virulence of this fascinating pathogenic species. Crucially, we demonstrate that Burkholderia phages KS12 and AH2, respectively, prevent and reduce infection-associated onion tissue destruction, measured through significant (P < 0.0001) reductions in xPMI, by phytopathogenic strains of B. gladioli, thereby demonstrating the potential of agricultural phage biocontrol targeting this problematic microorganism.IMPORTANCEAgricultural crop destruction is increasing due to infections caused by bacteria such as Burkholderia gladioli, which causes plant tissue diseases in onion, mushroom, corn, and rice crops. These bacteria pose a major threat to worldwide food production, which, in turn, damages the global economy. One potential solution being investigated to prevent bacterial infections of plants is "biocontrol" using bacteriophages (or phages), which are bacterial viruses that readily infect and destroy bacterial cells. In this article, we demonstrate that Burkholderia phages KS12 and AH2 prevent or reduce infection-associated plant tissue destruction caused by strains of B. gladioli, thereby demonstrating the inherent potential of agricultural phage biocontrol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Lauman
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jonathan J Dennis
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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10
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Alrafaie AM, Pyrzanowska K, Smith EM, Partridge DG, Rafferty J, Mesnage S, Shepherd J, Stafford GP. A diverse set of Enterococcus-infecting phage provides insight into phage host-range determinants. Virus Res 2024; 347:199426. [PMID: 38960003 PMCID: PMC11269942 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2024.199426] [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: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 06/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
Enterococci are robust Gram-positive bacteria that pose a significant threat in healthcare settings due to antibiotic resistance, with vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) most prominent. To tackle this issue, bacteriophages (bacterial viruses) can be exploited as they specifically and efficiently target bacteria. Here, we successfully isolated and characterised a set of novel phages: SHEF10, SHEF11, SHEF13, SHEF14, and SHEF16 which target E. faecalis (SHEF10,11,13), or E. faecium (SHEF13, SHEF14 & SHEF16) strains including a range of clinical and VRE isolates. Genomic analysis shows that all phages are strictly lytic and diverse in terms of genome size and content, quickly and effectively lysing strains at different multiplicity of infections. Detailed analysis of the broad host-range SHEF13 phage revealed the crucial role of the enterococcal polysaccharide antigen (EPA) variable region in its infection of E. faecalis V583. In parallel, the discovery of a carbohydrate-targeting domain (CBM22) found conserved within the three phage genomes indicates a role in cell surface interactions that may be important in phage-bacterial interactons. These findings advance our comprehension of phage-host interactions and pave the way for targeted therapeutic strategies against antibiotic-resistant enterococcal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alhassan M Alrafaie
- Department of Medical Laboratory, College of Applied Medical Sciences in Al-Kharj, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Karolina Pyrzanowska
- School of Clinical Dentistry, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom, S10 2TA, UK
| | - Elspeth M Smith
- School of Clinical Dentistry, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom, S10 2TA, UK
| | - David G Partridge
- Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield S10 2JF, UK
| | - John Rafferty
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Stephane Mesnage
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Joanna Shepherd
- School of Clinical Dentistry, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom, S10 2TA, UK
| | - Graham P Stafford
- School of Clinical Dentistry, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom, S10 2TA, UK; School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK.
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11
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Maguire G, McGee ST. NeoGenesis MB-1 with CRISPR Technology Reduces the Effects of the Viruses (Phages) Associated with Acne - Case Report. Integr Med (Encinitas) 2024; 23:34-38. [PMID: 39355416 PMCID: PMC11441580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/03/2024]
Abstract
We present a case of acne successfully treated with a topical spray containing live bacteria. The live bacteria used in the spray contain CRISPR, and adaptive immune system in the bacteria that are used to disable viral replication. Because acne skin contains bacteria in the microbiome where a shift toward non-CRISPR bacteria occurs, these bacteria are susceptible to bacteriophage infection and lysogeny. Normalizing the bacterial microbiome to one containing more CRISPR-containing bacteria renormalizes the microbiome by killing inflammation-causing bacteriophage infecting the non-CRISPR bacteria associated with acne.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greg Maguire
- California Physiological Society and Neogenesis, Inc.
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12
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Adamczyk-Popławska M, Golec P, Piekarowicz A, Kwiatek A. The potential for bacteriophages and prophage elements in fighting and preventing the gonorrhea. Crit Rev Microbiol 2024; 50:769-784. [PMID: 37897236 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2023.2274849] [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: 04/30/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023]
Abstract
Bacteriophages are the most numerous entities on earth and are found everywhere their bacterial hosts live. As natural bacteria killers, phages are extensively investigated as a potential cure for bacterial infections. Neisseria gonorrhoeae (the gonococcus) is the etiologic agent of a sexually transmitted disease: gonorrhea. The rapid increase of resistance of N. gonorrhoeae to antibiotics urges scientists to look for alternative treatments to combat gonococcal infections. Phage therapy has not been tested as an anti-gonococcal therapy so far. To date, no lytic phage has been discovered against N. gonorrhoeae. Nevertheless, gonococcal genomes contain both dsDNA and ssDNA prophages, and viral particle induction has been documented. In this review, we consider literature data about the attempts of hunting for a bacteriophage specific for gonococci - the gonophage. We also discuss the potential application of prophage elements in the fight against N. gonorrhoeae. Temperate phages may be useful in preventing and treating gonorrhea as a scaffold for anti-gonococcal vaccine development and as a source of lytic enzymes with anti-gonococcal activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Adamczyk-Popławska
- Department of Molecular Virology, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Microbiology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Piotr Golec
- Department of Molecular Virology, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Microbiology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Andrzej Piekarowicz
- Department of Molecular Virology, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Microbiology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Kwiatek
- Department of Molecular Virology, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Microbiology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
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13
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Heller DM, Sivanathan V, Asai DJ, Hatfull GF. SEA-PHAGES and SEA-GENES: Advancing Virology and Science Education. Annu Rev Virol 2024; 11:1-20. [PMID: 38684129 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-virology-113023-110757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Research opportunities for undergraduate students are strongly advantageous, but implementation at a large scale presents numerous challenges. The enormous diversity of the bacteriophage population and a supportive programmatic structure provide opportunities to engage early-career undergraduates in phage discovery, genomics, and genetics. The Science Education Alliance (SEA) is an inclusive Research-Education Community (iREC) providing centralized programmatic support for students and faculty without prior experience in virology at institutions from community colleges to research-active universities to participate in two course-based projects, SEA-PHAGES (SEA Phage Hunters Advancing Genomic and Evolutionary Science) and SEA-GENES (SEA Gene-function Exploration by a Network of Emerging Scientists). Since 2008, the SEA has supported more than 50,000 undergraduate researchers who have isolated more than 23,000 bacteriophages of which more than 4,500 are fully sequenced and annotated. Students have functionally characterized hundreds of phage genes, and the phage collection has fueled the therapeutic use of phages for treatment of Mycobacterium infections. Participation in the SEA promotes student persistence in science education, and its inclusivity promotes a more equitable scientific community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle M Heller
- Center for the Advancement of Science Leadership and Culture, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Maryland, USA
| | - Viknesh Sivanathan
- Center for the Advancement of Science Leadership and Culture, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Maryland, USA
| | - David J Asai
- Center for the Advancement of Science Leadership and Culture, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Maryland, USA
| | - Graham F Hatfull
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA;
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14
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He L, Miguel-Romero L, Patkowski JB, Alqurainy N, Rocha EPC, Costa TRD, Fillol-Salom A, Penadés JR. Tail assembly interference is a common strategy in bacterial antiviral defenses. Nat Commun 2024; 15:7539. [PMID: 39215040 PMCID: PMC11364771 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51915-4] [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: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 08/20/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Many bacterial immune systems recognize phage structural components to activate antiviral responses, without inhibiting the function of the phage component. These systems can be encoded in specific chromosomal loci, known as defense islands, and in mobile genetic elements such as prophages and phage-inducible chromosomal islands (PICIs). Here, we identify a family of bacterial immune systems, named Tai (for 'tail assembly inhibition'), that is prevalent in PICIs, prophages and P4-like phage satellites. Tai systems protect their bacterial host population from other phages by blocking the tail assembly step, leading to the release of tailless phages incapable of infecting new hosts. To prevent autoimmunity, some Tai-positive phages have an associated counter-defense mechanism that is expressed during the phage lytic cycle and allows for tail formation. Interestingly, the Tai defense and counter-defense genes are organized in a non-contiguous operon, enabling their coordinated expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingchen He
- Centre for Bacterial Resistance Biology, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Laura Miguel-Romero
- Centre for Bacterial Resistance Biology, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia (IBV), CSIC, Valencia, Spain
| | - Jonasz B Patkowski
- Centre for Bacterial Resistance Biology, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Nasser Alqurainy
- Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
- Department of Basic Science, College of Science and Health Professions, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences & King Abdullah International Medical Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Eduardo P C Rocha
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris Cité, CNRS, UMR3525, Microbial Evolutionary Genomics, Paris, France
| | - Tiago R D Costa
- Centre for Bacterial Resistance Biology, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Alfred Fillol-Salom
- Centre for Bacterial Resistance Biology, Imperial College London, London, UK.
| | - José R Penadés
- Centre for Bacterial Resistance Biology, Imperial College London, London, UK.
- School of Health Sciences, Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, CEU Universities, Alfara del Patriarca, Spain.
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15
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Bucher MJ, Czyż DM. Phage against the Machine: The SIE-ence of Superinfection Exclusion. Viruses 2024; 16:1348. [PMID: 39339825 PMCID: PMC11436027 DOI: 10.3390/v16091348] [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: 05/28/2024] [Revised: 08/10/2024] [Accepted: 08/20/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Prophages can alter their bacterial hosts to prevent other phages from infecting the same cell, a mechanism known as superinfection exclusion (SIE). Such alterations are facilitated by phage interactions with critical bacterial components involved in motility, adhesion, biofilm production, conjugation, antimicrobial resistance, and immune evasion. Therefore, the impact of SIE extends beyond the immediate defense against superinfection, influencing the overall fitness and virulence of the bacteria. Evaluating the interactions between phages and their bacterial targets is critical for leading phage therapy candidates like Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a Gram-negative bacterium responsible for persistent and antibiotic-resistant opportunistic infections. However, comprehensive literature on the mechanisms underlying SIE remains scarce. Here, we provide a compilation of well-characterized and potential mechanisms employed by Pseudomonas phages to establish SIE. We hypothesize that the fitness costs imposed by SIE affect bacterial virulence, highlighting the potential role of this mechanism in the management of bacterial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Bucher
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Daniel M Czyż
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
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16
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Marton HL, Sagona AP, Kilbride P, Gibson MI. Acidic polymers reversibly deactivate phages due to pH changes. RSC APPLIED POLYMERS 2024:d4lp00202d. [PMID: 39184364 PMCID: PMC11342163 DOI: 10.1039/d4lp00202d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2024] [Accepted: 08/15/2024] [Indexed: 08/27/2024]
Abstract
Bacteriophages are promising as therapeutics and biotechnological tools, but they also present a problem for routine and commercial bacterial cultures, where contamination must be avoided. Poly(carboxylic acids) have been reported to inhibit phages' ability to infect their bacterial hosts and hence offer an exciting route to discover additives to prevent infection. Their mechanism and limitations have not been explored. Here, we report the role of pH in inactivating phages to determine if the polymers are unique or simply acidic. It is shown that lower pH (=3) triggered by either acidic polymers or similar changes in pH using HCl lead to inhibition. There is no inhibitory activity at higher pHs (in growth media). This was shown across a panel of phages and different molecular weights of commercial and controlled-radical polymerization-derived poly(acrylic acid)s. It is shown that poly(acrylic acid) leads to reversible deactivation of phage, but when the pH is adjusted using HCl alone the phage is irreversibly deactivated. Further experiments using metal binders ruled out ion depletion as the mode of action. These results show that polymeric phage inhibitors may work by unique mechanisms of action and that pH alone cannot explain the observed effects whilst also placing constraints on the practical utility of poly(acrylic acid).
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Affiliation(s)
- Huba L Marton
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick Coventry CV4 7AL UK +44 247 652 4112
| | - Antonia P Sagona
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick Coventry CV4 7AL UK
| | | | - Matthew I Gibson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick Coventry CV4 7AL UK +44 247 652 4112
- Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick Coventry CV4 7AL UK
- Department of Chemistry, University of Manchester Oxford Road Manchester M13 9PL UK
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester 131 Princess Street Manchester M1 7DN UK
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17
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Sae-Ueng U, Bunsuwansakul C, Showpanish K, Phironrit N, Thadajarassiri J, Nehls C. Nanomechanical resilience and thermal stability of RSJ2 phage. Sci Rep 2024; 14:19389. [PMID: 39169068 PMCID: PMC11339380 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-70056-8] [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: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 08/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024] Open
Abstract
As the world moves toward a green economy and sustainable agriculture, bacterial viruses or bacteriophages (phages) become attractive biocontrol agents for controlling crop diseases. Effective utilization of phages in farms requires integrated knowledge of crops, pathogens, phages, and surroundings. Phages must encounter environmental fluctuations, including temperature, and must remain infectious for successful bacteria lysis. This work studied a soilborne RSJ2 phage discovered in Thailand, which can eliminate Ralstonia solanacearum, causing bacterial wilt disease in chili. We investigated how phage infectivity and nanomechanics responded to thermal changes. The plaque-based assay showed that the infectivity of the RSJ2 phage was stable within 24-40 °C, an average temperature fluctuation in tropical regions. The structural examination also showed that the phage remained intact. The nanomechanical property of the phage was inspected by the atomic force microscopy-based nanoindentation. The result revealed that the phage stiffness within 24-40 °C was statistically similar (0.05-0.06 N/m). Upon heating at 40 °C for 1, 5, and 10 h and resting at 25 °C, the stiffness of the phage particles increased to 0.09-0.11 N/m (54-83% increase). The stiffness results suggest structural adaptation of the protein subunits as a response to thermal alteration. The study exhibits that the phage structure is highly dynamic and can nanomechanically respond to varying temperatures. The phage stiffness may reveal insight into phage adaptation to environmental factors. Equipped with the knowledge of phage infectivity, structure, and nanomechanics, we can design practical guidelines for effective phage usage in farming and propelling green and safe agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Udom Sae-Ueng
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Pathum Thani, 12120, Thailand.
| | - Chooseel Bunsuwansakul
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Pathum Thani, 12120, Thailand
| | - Kittiya Showpanish
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Pathum Thani, 12120, Thailand
| | - Namthip Phironrit
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Pathum Thani, 12120, Thailand
| | - Jidapa Thadajarassiri
- Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Srinakharinwirot University, Bangkok, 10110, Thailand
| | - Christians Nehls
- Research Center Borstel - Leibniz Lung Center (FZB), Borstel, Germany
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB), Hamburg, Germany
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18
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Monsibais AN, Tea O, Ghatbale P, Phan J, Lam K, Paulson M, Tran N, Suder DS, Blanc AN, Samillano C, Suh J, Dunham S, Gonen S, Pride D, Whiteson K. Enhanced Suppression of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia by a Three-Phage Cocktail: Genomic Insights and Kinetic Profiling. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.08.14.607921. [PMID: 39185190 PMCID: PMC11343209 DOI: 10.1101/2024.08.14.607921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/27/2024]
Abstract
In our era of rising antibiotic resistance, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (STM) is an understudied, gram-negative, aerobic bacterium widespread in the environment and increasingly causing opportunistic infections. Treating STM infections remains difficult, leading to an increase in disease severity and higher hospitalization rates in people with Cystic Fibrosis (pwCF), cancer, and other immunocompromised health conditions. The lack of effective antibiotics has led to renewed interest in phage therapy; however, there is a need for well-characterized phages. In response to an oncology patient with a respiratory infection, we collected 18 phages from Southern California wastewater influent that exhibit different plaque morphology against STM host strain B28B, cultivated from a blood sample. Here, we characterize the genomes and life cycle kinetics of our STM phage collection. We hypothesize that genetically distinct phages give rise to unique lytic life cycles that can enhance bacterial killing when combined into a phage cocktail compared to the individual phages alone. We identified three genetically distinct clusters of phages, and a representative from each group was screened for potential therapeutic use and investigated for infection kinetics. The results demonstrated that the three-phage cocktail significantly suppressed bacterial growth compared to individual phages when observed for 48 hours. We also assessed the lytic impacts of our three-phage cocktail against a collection of 46 STM strains to determine if a multi-phage cocktail can expand the host range of individual phages. Our phages remained strain-specific and infect >50% of tested strains. The multi-phage cocktail maintains bacterial growth suppression and prevents the emergence of phage-resistant strains throughout our 40-hour assay. These findings suggest specialized phage cocktails may be an effective avenue of treatment for recalcitrant STM infections resistant to current antibiotics. IMPORTANCE Phage therapy could provide a vital strategy in the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR) bacterial infections; however, significant knowledge gaps remain. This study investigates phage cocktail development for the opportunistic pathogen Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (STM). Our findings contribute novel phages, their lytic characteristics, and limitations when exposed to an array of clinically relevant STM strains. Eighteen bacteriophages were isolated from wastewater influent from Escondido, California, and subjected to genomic analysis. We investigated genetically distinct phages to establish their infection kinetics and developed them into a phage cocktail. Our findings suggest that a genetically distinct STM phage cocktail provides an effective strategy for bacterial suppression of host strain B28B and five other clinically relevant STM strains. Phage therapy against STM remains poorly understood, as only 39 phages have been previously isolated. Future research into the underlying mechanism of how phage cocktails overwhelm the host bacteria will provide essential information that could aid in optimizing phage applications and impact alternative treatment options.
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19
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Jaglan AB, Verma R, Vashisth M, Virmani N, Bera BC, Vaid RK, Anand T. A novel lytic phage infecting MDR Salmonella enterica and its application as effective food biocontrol. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1387830. [PMID: 39211316 PMCID: PMC11358711 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1387830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Salmonella enterica is a foodborne pathogen associated with both typhoid and non-typhoid illness in humans and animals. This problem is further exacerbated by the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains of Salmonella enterica. Therefore, to meet public health and safety, there is a need for an alternative strategy to tackle antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Bacteriophages or (bacterial viruses), due to their specificity, self-dosing, and antibiofilm activity, serve as a better approach to fighting against drug-resistant bacteria. In the current study, a broad-host range lytic phage phiSalP219 was isolated against multidrug-resistant Salmonella enterica serotypes Paratyphi from a pond water sample. Salmonella phage phiSalP219 was able to lyse 28/30 tested strains of Salmonella enterica. Salmonella phage phiSalP219 exhibits activity in acidic environments (pH3) and high temperatures (70°C). Electron microscopy and genome analysis revealed that phage phiSalP219 is a member of class Caudoviricetes. The genome of Salmonella phage phiSalP219 is 146Kb in size with 44.5% GC content. A total of 250 Coding Sequence (CDS) and 25 tRNAs were predicted in its genome. Predicted open reading frames (ORFs) were divided into five groups based on their annotation results: (1) nucleotide metabolism, (2) DNA replication and transcription, (3) structural proteins, (4) lysis protein, and (5) other proteins. The absence of lysogeny-related genes in their genome indicates that Salmonella phage phiSalP219 is lytic in nature. Phage phiSalP219 was also found to be microbiologically safe (due to the absence of toxin or virulence-related genes) in the control of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium infections in the ready-to-eat meat and also able to eradicate biofilm formed by the same bacterium on the borosilicate glass surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anu Bala Jaglan
- ICAR – National Research Centre on Equines, Hisar, India
- Department of Zoology and Aquaculture, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, India
| | - Ravikant Verma
- Department of Zoology and Aquaculture, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, India
| | | | - Nitin Virmani
- ICAR – National Research Centre on Equines, Hisar, India
| | - B. C. Bera
- ICAR – National Research Centre on Equines, Hisar, India
| | - R. K. Vaid
- ICAR – National Research Centre on Equines, Hisar, India
| | - Taruna Anand
- ICAR – National Research Centre on Equines, Hisar, India
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20
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Davies T, Cando‐Dumancela C, Liddicoat C, Dresken R, Damen RH, Edwards RA, Ramesh SA, Breed MF. Ecological phage therapy: Can bacteriophages help rapidly restore the soil microbiome? Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e70185. [PMID: 39145040 PMCID: PMC11322231 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.70185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2024] [Revised: 07/25/2024] [Accepted: 08/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Soil microbiota underpin ecosystem functionality yet are rarely targeted during ecosystem restoration. Soil microbiota recovery following native plant revegetation can take years to decades, while the effectiveness of soil inoculation treatments on microbiomes remains poorly explored. Therefore, innovative restoration treatments that target soil microbiota represent an opportunity to accelerate restoration outcomes. Here, we introduce the concept of ecological phage therapy-the application of phage for the targeted reduction of the most abundant and dominant bacterial taxa present in degraded ecosystems. We propose that naturally occurring bacteriophages-viruses that infect bacteria-could help rapidly shift soil microbiota towards target communities. Bacteriophages sculpt the microbiome by lysis of specific bacteria, and if followed by the addition of reference soil microbiota, such treatments could facilitate rapid reshaping of soil microbiota. Here, we experimentally tested this concept in a pilot study. We collected five replicate pre-treatment degraded soil samples, then three replicate soil samples 48 hours after phage, bacteria, and control treatments. Bacterial 16S rDNA sequencing showed that phage-treated soils had reduced bacterial diversity; however, when we combined ecological phage therapy with reference soil inoculation, we did not see a shift in soil bacterial community composition from degraded soil towards a reference-like community. Our pilot study provides early evidence that ecological phage therapy could help accelerate the reshaping of soil microbiota with the ultimate aim of reducing timeframes for ecosystem recovery. We recommend the next steps for ecological phage therapy be (a) developing appropriate risk assessment and management frameworks, and (b) focussing research effort on its practical application to maximise its accessibility to restoration practitioners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tarryn Davies
- College of Science and EngineeringFlinders UniversityBedford ParkSouth AustraliaAustralia
| | | | - Craig Liddicoat
- College of Science and EngineeringFlinders UniversityBedford ParkSouth AustraliaAustralia
| | - Romy Dresken
- School of Biological Sciences and the Environment InstituteUniversity of AdelaideAdelaideSouth AustraliaAustralia
| | - Rudolf H. Damen
- College of Science and EngineeringFlinders UniversityBedford ParkSouth AustraliaAustralia
- HAN University of Applied SciencesNijmegenNetherlands
| | - Robert A. Edwards
- College of Science and EngineeringFlinders UniversityBedford ParkSouth AustraliaAustralia
| | - Sunita A. Ramesh
- College of Science and EngineeringFlinders UniversityBedford ParkSouth AustraliaAustralia
| | - Martin F. Breed
- College of Science and EngineeringFlinders UniversityBedford ParkSouth AustraliaAustralia
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21
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Gangakhedkar R, Jain V. Construing the function of N-terminal domain of D29 mycobacteriophage LysA endolysin in phage lytic efficiency and proliferation. Mol Microbiol 2024; 122:243-254. [PMID: 38994875 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.15295] [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: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
Endolysins produced by bacteriophages hydrolyze host cell wall peptidoglycan to release newly assembled virions. D29 mycobacteriophage specifically infects mycobacteria including the pathogenic Mycobacterium tuberculosis. D29 encodes LysA endolysin, which hydrolyzes mycobacterial cell wall peptidoglycan. We previously showed that LysA harbors two catalytic domains (N-terminal domain [NTD] and lysozyme-like domain [LD]) and a C-terminal cell wall binding domain (CTD). While the importance of LD and CTD in mycobacteriophage biology has been examined in great detail, NTD has largely remained unexplored. Here, to address NTD's significance in D29 physiology, we generated NTD-deficient D29 (D29∆NTD) by deleting the NTD-coding region from D29 genome using CRISPY-BRED. We show that D29∆NTD is viable, but has a longer latent period, and a remarkably reduced burst size and plaque size. A large number of phages were found to be trapped in the host during the D29∆NTD-mediated cell lysis event. Such poor release of progeny phages during host cell lysis strongly suggests that NTD-deficient LysA produced by D29∆NTD, despite having catalytically-active LD, is unable to efficiently lyse host bacteria. We thus conclude that LysA NTD is essential for optimal release of progeny virions, thereby playing an extremely vital role in phage physiology and phage propagation in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rutuja Gangakhedkar
- Microbiology and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Bhopal, India
| | - Vikas Jain
- Microbiology and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Bhopal, India
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22
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Giergiel M, Chakkumpulakkal Puthan Veettil T, Rossetti A, Kochan K. Advanced Vibrational Spectroscopy and Bacteriophages Team Up: Dynamic Synergy for Medical and Environmental Applications. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:8148. [PMID: 39125718 PMCID: PMC11311505 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25158148] [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: 06/28/2024] [Revised: 07/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophages are emerging as a promising alternative in combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria amidst the escalating global antimicrobial resistance crisis. Recently, there has been a notable resurgence of interest in phages, prompting extensive research into their therapeutic potential. Beyond conventional microbiology and virology techniques, such as genomics and proteomics, novel phenotypic and chemical characterization methods are being explored. Among these, there is a growing interest in vibrational spectroscopy, especially in advanced modalities such as surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS), and atomic force microscopy-infrared spectroscopy (AFM-IR), which offer improved sensitivity and spatial resolution. This review explores the spectrum of uses of vibrational spectroscopy for bacteriophages, including its role in diagnostics, biosensing, phage detection, assistance in phage-based therapy, and advancing basic research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Kamila Kochan
- School of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
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23
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Dutta M, Acharya P. Cryo-electron microscopy in the study of virus entry and infection. Front Mol Biosci 2024; 11:1429180. [PMID: 39114367 PMCID: PMC11303226 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2024.1429180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Viruses have been responsible for many epidemics and pandemics that have impacted human life globally. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted both our vulnerability to viral outbreaks, as well as the mobilization of the scientific community to come together to combat the unprecedented threat to humanity. Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) played a central role in our understanding of SARS-CoV-2 during the pandemic and continues to inform about this evolving pathogen. Cryo-EM with its two popular imaging modalities, single particle analysis (SPA) and cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET), has contributed immensely to understanding the structure of viruses and interactions that define their life cycles and pathogenicity. Here, we review how cryo-EM has informed our understanding of three distinct viruses, of which two - HIV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 infect humans, and the third, bacteriophages, infect bacteria. For HIV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 our focus is on the surface glycoproteins that are responsible for mediating host receptor binding, and host and cell membrane fusion, while for bacteriophages, we review their structure, capsid maturation, attachment to the bacterial cell surface and infection initiation mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moumita Dutta
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Priyamvada Acharya
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Durham, NC, United States
- Department of Surgery, Durham, NC, United States
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
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24
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Robins WP, Meader BT, Toska J, Mekalanos JJ. DdmABC-dependent death triggered by viral palindromic DNA sequences. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114450. [PMID: 39002129 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114450] [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: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Defense systems that recognize viruses provide important insights into both prokaryotic and eukaryotic innate immunity mechanisms. Such systems that restrict foreign DNA or trigger cell death have recently been recognized, but the molecular signals that activate many of these remain largely unknown. Here, we characterize one such system in pandemic Vibrio cholerae responsible for triggering cell density-dependent death (CDD) of cells in response to the presence of certain genetic elements. We show that the key component is the Lamassu DdmABC anti-phage/plasmid defense system. We demonstrate that signals that trigger CDD were palindromic DNA sequences in phages and plasmids that are predicted to form stem-loop hairpins from single-stranded DNA. Our results suggest that agents that damage DNA also trigger DdmABC activation and inhibit cell growth. Thus, any infectious process that results in damaged DNA, particularly during DNA replication, can in theory trigger DNA restriction and death through the DdmABC abortive infection system.
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Affiliation(s)
- William P Robins
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Bradley T Meader
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jonida Toska
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - John J Mekalanos
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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25
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Adams SK, Ducharme GE, Loveday EK. All the single cells: if you like it then you should put some virus on it. J Virol 2024; 98:e0127323. [PMID: 38904395 PMCID: PMC11324023 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01273-23] [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] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Across a rich 70-year history, single-cell virology has revealed the impact of host and pathogen heterogeneity during virus infections. Recent technological innovations have enabled higher-resolution analyses of cellular and viral heterogeneity. Furthermore, single-cell analysis has revealed extreme phenotypes and provided additional insights into host-pathogen dynamics. Using a single-cell approach to explore fundamental virology questions, contemporary researchers have contributed to a revival of interest in single-cell virology with increased insights and enthusiasm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia K. Adams
- Department of
Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State
University, Bozeman,
Montana, USA
- Center for Biofilm
Engineering, Montana State University,
Bozeman, Montana, USA
| | - Grace E. Ducharme
- Center for Biofilm
Engineering, Montana State University,
Bozeman, Montana, USA
- Department of Chemical
and Biological Engineering, Montana State
University, Bozeman,
Montana, USA
| | - Emma K. Loveday
- Center for Biofilm
Engineering, Montana State University,
Bozeman, Montana, USA
- Department of Chemical
and Biological Engineering, Montana State
University, Bozeman,
Montana, USA
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26
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Rafiee M, Tabarraei A, Yazdi M, Ghaemi EA. Isolation of lytic bacteriophages and their relationships with the adherence genes of Staphylococcus saprophyticus. BMC Res Notes 2024; 17:200. [PMID: 39039580 PMCID: PMC11265347 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-024-06864-y] [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: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to introduce a lytic bacteriophage against Staphylococcus saprophyticus from wastewater in Gorgan, northern Iran. RESULTS The vB_SsapS-46 phage was isolated from urban wastewater and formed round and clear plaques on bacterial culture. It was visualized by electron microscopy and had a large head (approximately 106 nm) and a long tail (approximately 150 nm), indicating that it belongs to the Siphoviridae family. The host range of vB_SsapS-46 was determined using a spot test on 35 S. saprophyticus clinical isolates, and it was able to lyse 12 of the 35 clinical isolates (34%). Finally, the relationship between phage sensitivity and adherence genes was assessed, revealing no significant correlation between phage sensitivity and the frequency of adherence genes. The vB_SsapS-46 phage can be used alone or in a mixture in future studies to control urinary tract infections caused by this bacterium, especially in the elimination of drug-resistant pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Rafiee
- Laboratory Sciences Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
| | - Alijan Tabarraei
- Laboratory Sciences Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
| | - Mahsa Yazdi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Ezzat Allah Ghaemi
- Laboratory Sciences Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.
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27
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Dieppa-Colón E, Martin C, Anantharaman K. Prophage-DB: A comprehensive database to explore diversity, distribution, and ecology of prophages. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.11.603044. [PMID: 39071402 PMCID: PMC11275716 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.11.603044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Background Viruses that infect prokaryotes (phages) constitute the most abundant group of biological agents, playing pivotal roles in microbial systems. They are known to impact microbial community dynamics, microbial ecology, and evolution. Efforts to document the diversity, host range, infection dynamics, and effects of bacteriophage infection on host cell metabolism are extremely underexplored. Phages are classified as virulent or temperate based on their life cycles. Temperate phages adopt the lysogenic mode of infection, where the genome integrates into the host cell genome forming a prophage. Prophages enable viral genome replication without host cell lysis, and often contribute novel and beneficial traits to the host genome. Current phage research predominantly focuses on lytic phages, leaving a significant gap in knowledge regarding prophages, including their biology, diversity, and ecological roles. Results Here we develop and describe Prophage-DB, a database of prophages, their proteins, and associated metadata that will serve as a resource for viral genomics and microbial ecology. To create the database, we identified and characterized prophages from genomes in three of the largest publicly available databases. We applied several state-of-the-art tools in our pipeline to annotate these viruses, cluster and taxonomically classify them, and detect their respective auxiliary metabolic genes. In total, we identify and characterize over 350,000 prophages and 35,000 auxiliary metabolic genes. Our prophage database is highly representative based on statistical results and contains prophages from a diverse set of archaeal and bacterial hosts which show a wide environmental distribution. Conclusion Prophages are particularly overlooked in viral ecology and merit increased attention due to their vital implications for microbiomes and their hosts. Here, we created Prophage-DB to advance our comprehension of prophages in microbiomes through a comprehensive characterization of prophages in publicly available genomes. We propose that Prophage-DB will serve as a valuable resource for advancing phage research, offering insights into viral taxonomy, host relationships, auxiliary metabolic genes, and environmental distribution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Etan Dieppa-Colón
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Microbiology Doctoral Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison
| | - Cody Martin
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Microbiology Doctoral Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison
| | - Karthik Anantharaman
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison
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28
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Pedersen EC, Lerche CJ, Schwartz FA, Ciofu O, Azeredo J, Thomsen K, Moser C. Bacteriophage therapy and infective endocarditis - is it realistic? APMIS 2024. [PMID: 39007242 DOI: 10.1111/apm.13455] [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: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Infective endocarditis (IE) is a severe infection of the inner heart. Even with current standard treatment, the mean in-hospital mortality is as high as 15-20%, and 1-year mortality is up to 40% for left-sided IE. Importantly, IE mortality rates have not changed substantially over the past 30 years, and the incidence of IE is rising. The treatment is challenging due to the bacterial biofilm mode of growth inside the heart valve vegetations, resulting in antibiotic tolerance. Achieving sufficient antibiotic anti-biofilm concentrations in the biofilms of the heart valve vegetations is problematic, even with high-dose and long-term antibiotic therapy. The increasing prevalence of IE caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria adds to the challenge. Therefore, adjunctive antibiotic-potentiating drug candidates and strategies are increasingly being investigated. Bacteriophage therapy is a reemerging antibacterial treatment strategy for difficult-to-treat infections, mainly biofilm-associated and caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria. However, significant knowledge gaps regarding the safety and efficacy of phage therapy impede more widespread implementation in clinical practice. Hopefully, future preclinical and clinical testing will reveal whether it is a viable treatment. The objective of the present review is to assess whether bacteriophage therapy is a realistic treatment for IE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie C Pedersen
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christian Johann Lerche
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department for Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Oana Ciofu
- Department for Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- European Society for Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) Study Group for Biofilms (ESGB), Basel, Switzerland
| | - Joana Azeredo
- European Society for Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) Study Group for Biofilms (ESGB), Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Kim Thomsen
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Zealand University Hospital, Slagelse, Denmark
| | - Claus Moser
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department for Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- European Society for Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) Study Group for Biofilms (ESGB), Basel, Switzerland
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29
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Ambros CL, Ehrmann MA. Fate, inducibility, and behavior of Latilactobacillus curvatus temperate phage TMW 1.591 P1 during sausage fermentation. J Appl Microbiol 2024; 135:lxae175. [PMID: 38991993 DOI: 10.1093/jambio/lxae175] [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: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 06/28/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
AIMS Temperate phages insert their genome into the host's chromosome. As prophages, they remain latent in the genome until an induction event leads to lytic phage production. When this occurs in a starter culture that has been added to food fermentation, this can impair the fermentation success. This study aimed to analyze prophage inducibility in the Latilactobacillus curvatus TMW 1.591 strain during meat fermentation and investigate whether an induction signal before cryopreservation is maintained during storage and can lead to phage-induced lysis after culture activation. METHODS AND RESULTS A prophage-free isogenic derivative of the model starter organism, L. curvatus TMW 1.591, was developed as a negative control (L. curvatus TMW 1.2406). Raw meat fermentation was performed with the wild-type (WT) and phage-cured strains. The WT strain produced high numbers of phages (5.2 ± 1.8 × 107 plaque-forming units g-1) in the meat batter. However, the prophage did not significantly affect the meat fermentation process. Induction experiments suggested an acidic environment as a potential trigger for prophage induction. Phage induction by ultraviolet light before strain cryopreservation remains functional for at least 10 weeks of storage. CONCLUSIONS Intact prophages are active during meat fermentation. However, in this study, this has no measurable consequences for fermentation, suggesting a high resiliency of meat fermentation against phages. Inadequate handling of lysogenic starter strains, even before preservation, can lead to phage introduction into food fermentation and unintended host lysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Conrad L Ambros
- Chair of Microbiology, Technical University of Munich (TUM), School of Life Sciences, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Matthias A Ehrmann
- Chair of Microbiology, Technical University of Munich (TUM), School of Life Sciences, 85354 Freising, Germany
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30
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Meidaninikjeh S, Mohammadi P, Elikaei A. A simplified method of bacteriophage preparation for transmission electron microscope. J Virol Methods 2024; 328:114951. [PMID: 38750823 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2024.114951] [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: 12/09/2023] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria. Researchers use different methods to study the characteristics of bacteriophages. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) is considered the best method to analyze these characteristics. However, the quality of TEM micrographs is significantly influenced by the preparation methods used to prepare the bacteriophages sample. In this study, researchers compared two different methods for preparing the bacteriophage samples. In one method was used SM buffer, while in the other used deionized water. The results were analyzed by TEM and compared with each other. Additionally, the viability of bacteriophage in deionized water and SM buffer at 4°C was determined through plaque assay within 72 hours. TEM micrographs showed that the quality of bacteriophage sample prepared with deionized water is superior to those prepared with SM buffer. Furthermore, the titer of the bacteriophages did not show a significant reduction during 72 hours in both SM and deionized water. In conclusion, the results suggested that preparation method can significantly impact the quality of TEM micrographs. Using sterile deionized water for the preparation of bacteriophages is a simple way to improve the quality of TEM micrographs and it is advisable to send the samples to the laboratory within 72 hours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sepideh Meidaninikjeh
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Parisa Mohammadi
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran; Research Center for Applied Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Ameneh Elikaei
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran; Research Center for Applied Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran
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31
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Mäkelä K, Laanto E, Sundberg LR. Determinants in the phage life cycle: The dynamic nature of ssDNA phage FLiP and host interactions under varying environmental conditions and growth phases. Environ Microbiol 2024; 26:e16670. [PMID: 38952172 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024]
Abstract
The influence of environmental factors on the interactions between phages and bacteria, particularly single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) phages, has been largely unexplored. In this study, we used Finnlakevirus FLiP, the first known ssDNA phage species with a lipid membrane, as our model phage. We examined the infectivity of FLiP with three Flavobacterium host strains, B330, B167 and B114. We discovered that FLiP infection is contingent on the host strain and conditions such as temperature and bacterial growth phase. FLiP can infect its hosts across a wide temperature range, but optimal phage replication varies with each host. We uncovered some unique aspects of phage infectivity: FLiP has limited infectivity in liquid-suspended cells, but it improves when cells are surface-attached. Moreover, FLiP infects stationary phase B167 and B114 cells more rapidly and efficiently than exponentially growing cells, a pattern not observed with the B330 host. We also present the first experimental evidence of endolysin function in ssDNA phages. The activity of FLiP's lytic enzymes was found to be condition-dependent. Our findings underscore the importance of studying phage ecology in contexts that are relevant to the environment, as both the host and the surrounding conditions can significantly alter the outcome of phage-host interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kati Mäkelä
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science and Nanoscience Center, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Elina Laanto
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science and Nanoscience Center, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Lotta-Riina Sundberg
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science and Nanoscience Center, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
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32
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Lewis JM, Williams J, Sagona AP. Making the leap from technique to treatment - genetic engineering is paving the way for more efficient phage therapy. Biochem Soc Trans 2024; 52:1373-1384. [PMID: 38716972 PMCID: PMC11346441 DOI: 10.1042/bst20231289] [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: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 03/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses specific to bacteria that target them with great efficiency and specificity. Phages were first studied for their antibacterial potential in the early twentieth century; however, their use was largely eclipsed by the popularity of antibiotics. Given the surge of antimicrobial-resistant strains worldwide, there has been a renaissance in harnessing phages as therapeutics once more. One of the key advantages of phages is their amenability to modification, allowing the generation of numerous derivatives optimised for specific functions depending on the modification. These enhanced derivatives could display higher infectivity, expanded host range or greater affinity to human tissues, where some bacterial species exert their pathogenesis. Despite this, there has been a noticeable discrepancy between the generation of derivatives in vitro and their clinical application in vivo. In most instances, phage therapy is only used on a compassionate-use basis, where all other treatment options have been exhausted. A lack of clinical trials and numerous regulatory hurdles hamper the progress of phage therapy and in turn, the engineered variants, in becoming widely used in the clinic. In this review, we outline the various types of modifications enacted upon phages and how these modifications contribute to their enhanced bactericidal function compared with wild-type phages. We also discuss the nascent progress of genetically modified phages in clinical trials along with the current issues these are confronted with, to validate it as a therapy in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joshua Williams
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, U.K
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33
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Wang H, Yang Y, Xu Y, Chen Y, Zhang W, Liu T, Chen G, Wang K. Phage-based delivery systems: engineering, applications, and challenges in nanomedicines. J Nanobiotechnology 2024; 22:365. [PMID: 38918839 PMCID: PMC11197292 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-024-02576-4] [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: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophages (phages) represent a unique category of viruses with a remarkable ability to selectively infect host bacteria, characterized by their assembly from proteins and nucleic acids. Leveraging their exceptional biological properties and modifiable characteristics, phages emerge as innovative, safe, and efficient delivery vectors. The potential drawbacks associated with conventional nanocarriers in the realms of drug and gene delivery include a lack of cell-specific targeting, cytotoxicity, and diminished in vivo transfection efficiency. In contrast, engineered phages, when employed as cargo delivery vectors, hold the promise to surmount these limitations and attain enhanced delivery efficacy. This review comprehensively outlines current strategies for the engineering of phages, delineates the principal types of phages utilized as nanocarriers in drug and gene delivery, and explores the application of phage-based delivery systems in disease therapy. Additionally, an incisive analysis is provided, critically examining the challenges confronted by phage-based delivery systems within the domain of nanotechnology. The primary objective of this article is to furnish a theoretical reference that contributes to the reasoned design and development of potent phage-based delivery systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
- Qingdao Central Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (Qingdao Central Medical Group), Qingdao, 266024, China
- School of Rehabilitation Sciences and Engineering, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Qingdao, 266024, China
| | - Ying Yang
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Yan Xu
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Yi Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Wenjie Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Tianqing Liu
- NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW, 2145, Australia.
| | - Gang Chen
- Qingdao Central Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (Qingdao Central Medical Group), Qingdao, 266024, China.
- School of Rehabilitation Sciences and Engineering, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Qingdao, 266024, China.
| | - Kaikai Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China.
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Lee J, Hunter B, Shim H. A pangenome analysis of ESKAPE bacteriophages: the underrepresentation may impact machine learning models. Front Mol Biosci 2024; 11:1395450. [PMID: 38974320 PMCID: PMC11224154 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2024.1395450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophages are the most prevalent biological entities in the biosphere. However, limitations in both medical relevance and sequencing technologies have led to a systematic underestimation of the genetic diversity within phages. This underrepresentation not only creates a significant gap in our understanding of phage roles across diverse biosystems but also introduces biases in computational models reliant on these data for training and testing. In this study, we focused on publicly available genomes of bacteriophages infecting high-priority ESKAPE pathogens to show the extent and impact of this underrepresentation. First, we demonstrate a stark underrepresentation of ESKAPE phage genomes within the public genome and protein databases. Next, a pangenome analysis of these ESKAPE phages reveals extensive sharing of core genes among phages infecting the same host. Furthermore, genome analyses and clustering highlight close nucleotide-level relationships among the ESKAPE phages, raising concerns about the limited diversity within current public databases. Lastly, we uncover a scarcity of unique lytic phages and phage proteins with antimicrobial activities against ESKAPE pathogens. This comprehensive analysis of the ESKAPE phages underscores the severity of underrepresentation and its potential implications. This lack of diversity in phage genomes may restrict the resurgence of phage therapy and cause biased outcomes in data-driven computational models due to incomplete and unbalanced biological datasets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeesu Lee
- Center for Biosystems and Biotech Data Science, Ghent University Global Campus, Incheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Branden Hunter
- Department of Biology, California State University, Fresno, CA, United States
| | - Hyunjin Shim
- Center for Biosystems and Biotech Data Science, Ghent University Global Campus, Incheon, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biology, California State University, Fresno, CA, United States
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35
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Ahmad S, Leng Q, Hou G, Liang Y, Li Y, Qu Y. Biological Traits and Comprehensive Genomic Analysis of Novel Enterococcus faecalis Bacteriophage EFP6. Microorganisms 2024; 12:1202. [PMID: 38930584 PMCID: PMC11206139 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12061202] [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: 05/11/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Enterococcus faecalis is a prevalent opportunistic pathogen associated with chicken embryonic and neonatal chick mortality, posing a significant challenge in poultry farming. In the current study, E. faecalis strain EF6, isolated from a recent hatchery outbreak, served as the host bacterium for the isolation of a novel phage EFP6, capable of lysing E. faecalis. Transmission electron microscopy revealed a hexagonal head and a short tail, classifying EFP6 as a member of the Autographiviridae family. EFP6 showed sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation and resistance to chloroform. The lytic cycle duration of EFP6 was determined to be 50 min, highlighting its efficacy in host eradication. With an optimal multiplicity of infection of 0.001, EFP6 exhibited a narrow lysis spectrum and strong specificity towards host strains. Additionally, EFP6 demonstrated optimal growth conditions at 40 °C and pH 8.0. Whole genome sequencing unveiled a genome length of 18,147 bp, characterized by a GC concentration of 33.21% and comprising 25 open reading frames. Comparative genomic assessment underscored its collinearity with related phages, notably devoid of lysogenic genes, thus ensuring genetic stability. This in-depth characterization forms the basis for understanding the biological attributes of EFP6 and its potential utilization in phage therapy, offering promising prospects for mitigating E. faecalis-associated poultry infections.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Yonggang Qu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China; (S.A.); (Q.L.); (G.H.); (Y.L.); (Y.L.)
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36
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Reyneke B, Havenga B, Waso-Reyneke M, Khan S, Khan W. Benefits and Challenges of Applying Bacteriophage Biocontrol in the Consumer Water Cycle. Microorganisms 2024; 12:1163. [PMID: 38930545 PMCID: PMC11205630 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12061163] [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: 05/08/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacteria (including disinfection- and antibiotic-resistant bacteria) are abundant in the consumer water cycle, where they may cause disease, and lead to biofouling and infrastructure damage in distributions systems, subsequently resulting in significant economic losses. Bacteriophages and their associated enzymes may then offer a biological control solution for application within the water sector. Lytic bacteriophages are of particular interest as biocontrol agents as their narrow host range can be exploited for the targeted removal of specific bacteria in a designated environment. Bacteriophages can also be used to improve processes such as wastewater treatment, while bacteriophage-derived enzymes can be applied to combat biofouling based on their effectiveness against preformed biofilms. However, the host range, environmental stability, bacteriophage resistance and biosafety risks are some of the factors that need to be considered prior to the large-scale application of these bacterial viruses. Characteristics of bacteriophages that highlight their potential as biocontrol agents are thus outlined in this review, as well as the potential application of bacteriophage biocontrol throughout the consumer water cycle. Additionally, the limitations of bacteriophage biocontrol and corresponding mitigation strategies are outlined, including the use of engineered bacteriophages for improved host ranges, environmental stability and the antimicrobial re-sensitisation of bacteria. Finally, the potential public and environmental risks associated with large-scale bacteriophage biocontrol application are considered, and alternative applications of bacteriophages to enhance the functioning of the consumer water cycle, including their use as water quality or treatment indicators and microbial source tracking markers, are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon Reyneke
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa
| | - Benjamin Havenga
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa
| | - Monique Waso-Reyneke
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 17011, Doornfontein 2028, South Africa
| | - Sehaam Khan
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 17011, Doornfontein 2028, South Africa
| | - Wesaal Khan
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa
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Ridgway R, Lu H, Blower TR, Evans NJ, Ainsworth S. Genomic and taxonomic evaluation of 38 Treponema prophage sequences. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:549. [PMID: 38824509 PMCID: PMC11144348 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10461-5] [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: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite Spirochetales being a ubiquitous and medically important order of bacteria infecting both humans and animals, there is extremely limited information regarding their bacteriophages. Of the genus Treponema, there is just a single reported characterised prophage. RESULTS We applied a bioinformatic approach on 24 previously published Treponema genomes to identify and characterise putative treponemal prophages. Thirteen of the genomes did not contain any detectable prophage regions. The remaining eleven contained 38 prophage sequences, with between one and eight putative prophages in each bacterial genome. The prophage regions ranged from 12.4 to 75.1 kb, with between 27 and 171 protein coding sequences. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that 24 of the prophages formed three distinct sequence clusters, identifying putative myoviral and siphoviral morphology. ViPTree analysis demonstrated that the identified sequences were novel when compared to known double stranded DNA bacteriophage genomes. CONCLUSIONS In this study, we have started to address the knowledge gap on treponeme bacteriophages by characterising 38 prophage sequences in 24 treponeme genomes. Using bioinformatic approaches, we have been able to identify and compare the prophage-like elements with respect to other bacteriophages, their gene content, and their potential to be a functional and inducible bacteriophage, which in turn can help focus our attention on specific prophages to investigate further.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Ridgway
- Department of Infection Biology and Microbiomes, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston, Cheshire, CH64 7TE, UK.
| | - Hanshuo Lu
- Department of Infection Biology and Microbiomes, University of Liverpool, Biosciences Building, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7BE, UK
| | - Tim R Blower
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Stockton Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
| | - Nicholas James Evans
- Department of Infection Biology and Microbiomes, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston, Cheshire, CH64 7TE, UK
| | - Stuart Ainsworth
- Department of Infection Biology and Microbiomes, University of Liverpool, Liverpool Science Park IC2, 146 Brownlow Hill, Liverpool, L3 5RF, UK
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38
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Al-Faliti M, Wang P, Smith AL, Delgado Vela J. Phage phylogeny, molecular signaling, and auxiliary antimicrobial resistance in aerobic and anaerobic membrane bioreactors. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 256:121620. [PMID: 38677036 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 03/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
Phage emit communication signals that inform their lytic and lysogenic life cycles. However, little is known regarding the abundance and diversity of the genes associated with phage communication systems in wastewater treatment microbial communities. This study focused on phage communities within two distinct biochemical wastewater environments, specifically aerobic membrane bioreactors (AeMBRs) and anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs) exposed to varying antibiotic concentrations. Metagenomic data from the bench-scale systems were analyzed to explore phage phylogeny, life cycles, and genetic capacity for antimicrobial resistance and quorum sensing. Two dominant phage families, Schitoviridae and Peduoviridae, exhibited redox-dependent dynamics. Schitoviridae prevailed in anaerobic conditions, while Peduoviridae dominated in aerobic conditions. Notably, the abundance of lytic and lysogenic proteins varied across conditions, suggesting the coexistence of both life cycles. Furthermore, the presence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) within viral contigs highlighted the potential for phage to transfer ARGs in AeMBRs. Finally, quorum sensing genes in the virome of AeMBRs indicated possible molecular signaling between phage and bacteria. Overall, this study provides insights into the dynamics of viral communities across varied redox conditions in MBRs. These findings shed light on phage life cycles, and auxiliary genetic capacity such as antibiotic resistance and bacterial quorum sensing within wastewater treatment microbial communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitham Al-Faliti
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Howard University, Washington, D.C., USA
| | - Phillip Wang
- Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Adam L Smith
- Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jeseth Delgado Vela
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Howard University, Washington, D.C., USA.
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Boeckaerts D, Stock M, Ferriol-González C, Oteo-Iglesias J, Sanjuán R, Domingo-Calap P, De Baets B, Briers Y. Prediction of Klebsiella phage-host specificity at the strain level. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4355. [PMID: 38778023 PMCID: PMC11111740 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48675-6] [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: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Phages are increasingly considered promising alternatives to target drug-resistant bacterial pathogens. However, their often-narrow host range can make it challenging to find matching phages against bacteria of interest. Current computational tools do not accurately predict interactions at the strain level in a way that is relevant and properly evaluated for practical use. We present PhageHostLearn, a machine learning system that predicts strain-level interactions between receptor-binding proteins and bacterial receptors for Klebsiella phage-bacteria pairs. We evaluate this system both in silico and in the laboratory, in the clinically relevant setting of finding matching phages against bacterial strains. PhageHostLearn reaches a cross-validated ROC AUC of up to 81.8% in silico and maintains this performance in laboratory validation. Our approach provides a framework for developing and evaluating phage-host prediction methods that are useful in practice, which we believe to be a meaningful contribution to the machine-learning-guided development of phage therapeutics and diagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitri Boeckaerts
- Laboratory of Applied Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- KERMIT, Department of Data Analysis and Mathematical Modelling, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Michiel Stock
- KERMIT, Department of Data Analysis and Mathematical Modelling, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Celia Ferriol-González
- Institute for Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio), Universitat de Valencia-CSIC, Paterna, Spain
| | - Jesús Oteo-Iglesias
- Laboratorio de Referencia e Investigación en Resistencia a Antibióticos e Infecciones Relacionadas con la Asistencia Sanitaria, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rafael Sanjuán
- Institute for Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio), Universitat de Valencia-CSIC, Paterna, Spain
| | - Pilar Domingo-Calap
- Institute for Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio), Universitat de Valencia-CSIC, Paterna, Spain
| | - Bernard De Baets
- KERMIT, Department of Data Analysis and Mathematical Modelling, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Yves Briers
- Laboratory of Applied Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
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40
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Sevilla-Navarro S, Torres-Boncompte J, Garcia-Llorens J, Bernabéu-Gimeno M, Domingo-Calap P, Catalá-Gregori P. Fighting Salmonella Infantis: bacteriophage-driven cleaning and disinfection strategies for broiler farms. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1401479. [PMID: 38812676 PMCID: PMC11134195 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1401479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Salmonella is a bacterium that can cause food-borne infections and is responsible for the most common gastrointestinal illnesses. The emergence of multi-drug resistant (MDR) strains worldwide is a major threat, representing a major challenge in public health. To reduce its incidence, the One Health approach is required, and the development of new biocontrol protocols will help prevent or eliminate the spread of Salmonella. Prevention measures, such as on-farm cleaning and disinfection protocols, are a crucial step in reducing infection to new flocks and eliminating bacteria that remain in the facilities. However, MDR Salmonella species, such as S. Infantis, are highly resistant to conventional cleaning and disinfection protocols, with an increased ability to persist in the broiler farm environment. The need for alternative biocontrol methods has led to the use of bacteriophages or phages, viruses that target bacteria, as promising tools. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of phages as a biocide against S. Infantis isolates in combination with cleaning and disinfection protocols in 10 commercial poultry farms. Methods All commercial farms selected in this study had persistent Salmonella, even after the routinely used cleaning and disinfection procedures. In addition, Salmonella isolated before treatment were phenotypically characterized by antimicrobial resistance patterns. Results The results showed that 100% of S. Infantis were resistant to at least one antibiotic, and > 70% were MDR. Phages were then isolated against the in-farm bacteria, purified, and multiplied for each poultry farm. The cleaning and disinfection protocols included the application of the lytic phages (vB_Si_CECAV_FGS009; vB_Si_CECAV_FGS017; vB_Si_CECAV_FGS029 and vB_Si_CECAV _FGS030) twice at 24-h intervals between cleaning and disinfection. Following the cleaning and disinfection procedures, Salmonella detection was reduced from 100% after cleaning to 36% after applying the phages and dropped to 0% after the final step of disinfection, thus eliminating Salmonella from the farm facilities. Discussion This study demonstrates that bacteriophage application after cleaning and before disinfection enhances the removal of MDR Salmonella Infantis in commercial broiler farms, suggesting their use as biocontrol agents to reduce Salmonella, a major public health concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Sevilla-Navarro
- Centro de Calidad Avícola y Alimentación Animal de la Comunidad Valenciana (CECAV), Castellón, Spain
| | - Jan Torres-Boncompte
- Centro de Calidad Avícola y Alimentación Animal de la Comunidad Valenciana (CECAV), Castellón, Spain
| | - Josep Garcia-Llorens
- Centro de Calidad Avícola y Alimentación Animal de la Comunidad Valenciana (CECAV), Castellón, Spain
| | - Mireia Bernabéu-Gimeno
- Instituto de Biología Integrativa de Sistemas, Universitat de València-CSIC, Paterna, Spain
| | - Pilar Domingo-Calap
- Instituto de Biología Integrativa de Sistemas, Universitat de València-CSIC, Paterna, Spain
| | - Pablo Catalá-Gregori
- Centro de Calidad Avícola y Alimentación Animal de la Comunidad Valenciana (CECAV), Castellón, Spain
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41
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Sprenger M, Siemers M, Krautwurst S, Papenfort K. Small RNAs direct attack and defense mechanisms in a quorum sensing phage and its host. Cell Host Microbe 2024; 32:727-738.e6. [PMID: 38579715 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2024.03.010] [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: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
Many, if not all, bacteria use quorum sensing (QS) to control collective behaviors, and more recently, QS has also been discovered in bacteriophages (phages). Phages can produce communication molecules of their own, or "listen in" on the host's communication processes, to switch between lytic and lysogenic modes of infection. Here, we study the interaction of Vibrio cholerae with the lysogenic phage VP882, which is activated by the QS molecule DPO. We discover that induction of VP882 results in the binding of phage transcripts to the major RNA chaperone Hfq, which in turn outcompetes and downregulates host-encoded small RNAs (sRNAs). VP882 itself also encodes Hfq-binding sRNAs, and we demonstrate that one of these sRNAs, named VpdS, promotes phage replication by regulating host and phage mRNA levels. We further show that host-encoded sRNAs can antagonize phage replication by downregulating phage mRNA expression and thus might be part of the host's phage defense arsenal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcel Sprenger
- Friedrich Schiller University, Institute of Microbiology, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Malte Siemers
- Friedrich Schiller University, Institute of Microbiology, 07745 Jena, Germany; Microverse Cluster, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | | | - Kai Papenfort
- Friedrich Schiller University, Institute of Microbiology, 07745 Jena, Germany; Microverse Cluster, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, 07743 Jena, Germany.
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42
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Hampton JT, Liu WR. Diversification of Phage-Displayed Peptide Libraries with Noncanonical Amino Acid Mutagenesis and Chemical Modification. Chem Rev 2024; 124:6051-6077. [PMID: 38686960 PMCID: PMC11082904 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.4c00004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Sitting on the interface between biologics and small molecules, peptides represent an emerging class of therapeutics. Numerous techniques have been developed in the past 30 years to take advantage of biological methods to generate and screen peptide libraries for the identification of therapeutic compounds, with phage display being one of the most accessible techniques. Although traditional phage display can generate billions of peptides simultaneously, it is limited to expression of canonical amino acids. Recently, several groups have successfully undergone efforts to apply genetic code expansion to introduce noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) with novel reactivities and chemistries into phage-displayed peptide libraries. In addition to biological methods, several different chemical approaches have also been used to install noncanonical motifs into phage libraries. This review focuses on these recent advances that have taken advantage of both biological and chemical means for diversification of phage libraries with ncAAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Trae Hampton
- Texas
A&M Drug Discovery Center and Department of Chemistry, College
of Arts and Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Wenshe Ray Liu
- Texas
A&M Drug Discovery Center and Department of Chemistry, College
of Arts and Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
- Institute
of Biosciences and Technology and Department of Translational Medical
Sciences, College of Medicine, Texas A&M
University, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
- Department
of Cell Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
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43
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McCammon S, Makarovs K, Banducci S, Gold V. Factors of prescribing phage therapy among UK healthcare professionals: Evidence from conjoint experiment and interviews. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0303056. [PMID: 38713691 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/09/2024] Open
Abstract
With the global challenge of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), interest in the development of antibiotic alternatives has surged worldwide. While phage therapy is not a new phenomenon, technological and socio-economic factors have limited its implementation in the Western world. There is now a resurged effort, especially in the UK, to address these challenges. In this study, we collect survey data on UK general practitioners (n = 131) and other healthcare professionals (n = 103), as well as interviews with medical professionals (n = 4) and a focus group with medical students (n = 6) to explore factors associated with their willingness to prescribe phage therapy to patients. The interviews with medical professionals show support for the expansion of bacteriophage clinical trials and highlight their role as a viable alternative to antibiotics. A conjoint experiment reveals that success rate, side effect rate, and patient attitude to treatment are the decisive factors when it comes to phage therapy prescription; in contrast, the effects of administration route, type of treatment, and severity of infection were not statistically significant. Moreover, we show that general practitioners overall are more likely to recommend phage treatment to patients, compared to other healthcare professionals. The results of the study suggest that phage therapy has a potential to be widely accepted and used by healthcare workers in the UK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie McCammon
- Living Systems Institute, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Kirils Makarovs
- Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Susan Banducci
- Department of Social and Political Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Vicki Gold
- Living Systems Institute, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
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44
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Schöler D, Schnabl B. The role of the microbiome in liver disease. Curr Opin Gastroenterol 2024; 40:134-142. [PMID: 38362864 PMCID: PMC10990783 DOI: 10.1097/mog.0000000000001013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The intestinal microbiome and the gut-liver axis play a major role in health and disease. The human gut harbors trillions of microbes and a disruption of the gut homeostasis can contribute to liver disease. In this review, the progress in the field within the last 3 years is summarized, focusing on metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD), autoimmune liver disease (AILD), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). RECENT FINDINGS Changes in the fecal virome and fungal mycobiome have been described in patients with various liver diseases. Several microbial derived metabolites including endogenous ethanol produced by bacteria, have been mechanistically linked to liver disease such as MASLD. Virulence factors encoded by gut bacteria contribute to ALD, AILD and HCC. Novel therapeutic approaches focused on the microbiome including phages, pre- and postbiotics have been successfully used in preclinical models. Fecal microbiota transplantation has been effective in attenuating liver disease. Probiotics are safe in patients with alcohol-associated hepatitis and improve liver disease and alcohol addiction. SUMMARY The gut-liver axis plays a key role in the pathophysiology of liver diseases. Understanding the microbiota in liver disease can help to develop precise microbiota centered therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Schöler
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego
| | - Bernd Schnabl
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego
- Department of Medicine, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California, USA
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45
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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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Fang Q, Yin X, He Y, Feng Y, Zhang L, Luo H, Yin G, McNally A, Zong Z. Safety and efficacy of phage application in bacterial decolonisation: a systematic review. THE LANCET. MICROBE 2024; 5:e489-e499. [PMID: 38452780 DOI: 10.1016/s2666-5247(24)00002-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Colonisation by bacterial pathogens typically precedes invasive infection and seeds transmission. Thus, effective decolonisation strategies are urgently needed. The literature reports attempts to use phages for decolonisation. To assess the in-vivo efficacy and safety of phages for bacterial decolonisation, we performed a systematic review by identifying relevant studies to assess the in-vivo efficacy and safety of phages for bacterial decolonisation. We searched PubMed, Embase (Ovid), MEDLINE (Ovid), Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library to identify relevant articles published between Jan 1, 1990, and May 12, 2023, without language restrictions. We included studies that assessed the efficacy of phage for bacterial decolonisation in humans or vertebrate animal models. This systematic review is registered with PROSPERO, CRD42023457637. We identified 6694 articles, of which 56 (51 animal studies and five clinical reports) met the predetermined selection criteria and were included in the final analysis. The gastrointestinal tract (n=49, 88%) was the most studied bacterial colonisation site, and other sites were central venous catheters, lung, nose, skin, and urinary tract. Of the 56 included studies, the bacterial load at the colonisation site was reported to decrease significantly in 45 (80%) studies, but only five described eradication of the target bacteria. 15 studies reported the safety of phages for decolonisation. No obvious adverse events were reported in both the short-term and long-term observation period. Given the increasing life-threatening risks posed by bacteria that are difficult to treat, phages could be an alternative option for bacterial decolonisation, although further optimisation is required before their application to meet clinical needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingqing Fang
- Center of Infectious Diseases, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Department of General Practice, General Practice Medical Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Division of Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Chengdu, China
| | - Xin Yin
- Center of Infectious Diseases, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Division of Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Chengdu, China
| | - Yanling He
- Center of Infectious Diseases, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Division of Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Chengdu, China
| | - Yan Feng
- Center of Infectious Diseases, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Division of Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Chengdu, China
| | - Linwan Zhang
- Center of Infectious Diseases, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Department of Clinical Research Management, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Division of Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Chengdu, China
| | - Huan Luo
- Center for Pathogen Research, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Geng Yin
- Department of General Practice, General Practice Medical Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Alan McNally
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Zhiyong Zong
- Center of Infectious Diseases, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Center for Pathogen Research, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Division of Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Chengdu, China.
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47
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Zhen J, Liu R, Man C, Xu S, Zhang W, Zou L, Liu W, Ni HB, Zou M, He T, Wang R, Zhang XX, Zhang C. Bacteriophage LHE83 targeting OmpA as a receptor exhibited synergism with spectinomycin against Escherichia coli. Poult Sci 2024; 103:103643. [PMID: 38537406 PMCID: PMC10987938 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2024.103643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Understanding the characteristics of bacteriophages is crucial for the optimization of phage therapy. In this study, the biological and genomic characteristics of coliphage LHE83 were determined and its synergistic effects with different types of antibiotics against E. coli E82 were investigated. Phage LHE83 displayed a contractile tail morphology and had a titer of 3.02 × 109 pfu/mL at an optimal MOI of 0.01. Meanwhile, phage LHE83 exhibited good physical and chemical factors tolerance. The 1-step growth analysis revealed a latent period of approx. 10 min with a burst size of 87 pfu/infected cell. Phage LHE83 belongs to the genus Dhakavirus. Its genome consists of 170,464 bp with a 40% GC content, and a total of 268 Open Reading Frames (ORF) were predicted with no detected virulent or resistant genes. ORF 213 was predicted to encode the receptor binding protein (RBP) and confirmed by the antibody-blocking assay. Furthermore, a phage-resistant strain E. coli E82R was generated by co-culturing phage LHE83 with E. coli E82. Genomic analysis revealed that OmpA served as the receptor for phage LHE83, which was further confirmed by phage adsorption assay using E. coli BL21ΔOmpA, E. coli BL21ΔOmpA: OmpA and E. coli BL21:OmpA strains. Additionally, a synergistic effect was observed between phage LHE83 and spectinomycin against the drug-resistant strain E. coli E82. These results provide a theoretical basis for understanding the interactions between phages, antibiotics, and host bacteria, which can assist in the clinical application of phages and antibiotics against drug-resistant bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianyu Zhen
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Rui Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Cheng Man
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Shijie Xu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Wenxiu Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Ling Zou
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Wenhua Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Hong-Bo Ni
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Ming Zou
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Tao He
- Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Ran Wang
- Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiao-Xuan Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Can Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China.
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48
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Hashemi Shahraki A, Vahed M, Mirsaeidi M. Genome sequencing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa phages; UF_RH7 and UF_RH9. Microbiol Resour Announc 2024; 13:e0105023. [PMID: 38483455 PMCID: PMC11008205 DOI: 10.1128/mra.01050-23] [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: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
We have sequenced the genomes of two lytic phages, UF_RH7 and UF_RH9, which infect Pseudomonas aeruginosa. UF_RH7 belongs to Casjensviridae family and has a genome length of 58,217 bp and encodes 82 proteins. UF_RH9 belongs to Caudoviricetes class and has a genome length of 42,609 bp and encodes 55 proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdolrazagh Hashemi Shahraki
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep, College of Medicine-Jacksonville, University of Florida, Jacksonville, Florida, USA
| | - Majid Vahed
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep, College of Medicine-Jacksonville, University of Florida, Jacksonville, Florida, USA
| | - Mehdi Mirsaeidi
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep, College of Medicine-Jacksonville, University of Florida, Jacksonville, Florida, USA
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49
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Flores VS, Amgarten DE, Iha BKV, Ryon KA, Danko D, Tierney BT, Mason C, da Silva AM, Setubal JC. Discovery and description of novel phage genomes from urban microbiomes sampled by the MetaSUB consortium. Sci Rep 2024; 14:7913. [PMID: 38575625 PMCID: PMC10994904 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-58226-0] [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: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophages are recognized as the most abundant members of microbiomes and have therefore a profound impact on microbial communities through the interactions with their bacterial hosts. The International Metagenomics and Metadesign of Subways and Urban Biomes Consortium (MetaSUB) has sampled mass-transit systems in 60 cities over 3 years using metagenomics, throwing light into these hitherto largely unexplored urban environments. MetaSUB focused primarily on the bacterial community. In this work, we explored MetaSUB metagenomic data in order to recover and analyze bacteriophage genomes. We recovered and analyzed 1714 phage genomes with size at least 40 kbp, from the class Caudoviricetes, the vast majority of which (80%) are novel. The recovered genomes were predicted to belong to temperate (69%) and lytic (31%) phages. Thirty-three of these genomes have more than 200 kbp, and one of them reaches 572 kbp, placing it among the largest phage genomes ever found. In general, the phages tended to be site-specific or nearly so, but 194 genomes could be identified in every city from which phage genomes were retrieved. We predicted hosts for 48% of the phages and observed general agreement between phage abundance and the respective bacterial host abundance, which include the most common nosocomial multidrug-resistant pathogens. A small fraction of the phage genomes are carriers of antibiotic resistance genes, and such genomes tended to be particularly abundant in the sites where they were found. We also detected CRISPR-Cas systems in five phage genomes. This study expands the previously reported MetaSUB results and is a contribution to the knowledge about phage diversity, global distribution, and phage genome content.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinicius S Flores
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Deyvid E Amgarten
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508-000, Brazil
- Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Bruno Koshin Vázquez Iha
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508-000, Brazil
| | | | | | - Braden T Tierney
- Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Aline Maria da Silva
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508-000, Brazil.
| | - João Carlos Setubal
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508-000, Brazil.
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50
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Chepchumba B, Asudi GO, Katana J, Ngayo MO, Khayeli JA. Isolation of phages against Streptococcus species in the oral cavity for potential control of dental diseases and associated systemic complications. Arch Microbiol 2024; 206:175. [PMID: 38493441 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-024-03897-6] [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: 12/09/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Dental infections and systemic complications caused by Streptococcus species in the oral cavity are increasingly exhibiting resistance to commonly used antibiotics, posing a potential threat to global public health. Phage therapy may offer a superior alternative, given that bacteriophages can be easily isolated and rapidly replicate in large numbers. In this study, six Streptococcus species from the oral cavity were characterized. Bacteriophages isolated from wastewater using five of these species as hosts produced plaques ranging from 0.2 to 2.4 mm in size. The phages demonstrated stability within a temperature range of 4 ℃ to 37 ℃. However, at temperatures exceeding 45 ℃, a noticeable reduction in bacteriophage titer was observed. Similarly, the phages showed greater stability within a pH range of 5 to 10. The isolated phages exhibited latency periods ranging from 15 to 20 min and had burst sizes varying from 10 to 200 viral particles. This study supports the potential use of bacteriophages in controlling infections caused by Streptococcus species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatrice Chepchumba
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya.
| | - George O Asudi
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Japhet Katana
- Center for Microbiology Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Musa O Ngayo
- Center for Microbiology Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
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