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Johnston W, Ware A, Kuiters WF, Delaney C, Brown JL, Hagen S, Corcoran D, Cummings M, Ramage G, Kean R. In vitro bacterial vaginosis biofilm community manipulation using endolysin therapy. Biofilm 2022; 5:100101. [PMID: 36655001 PMCID: PMC9841237 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioflm.2022.100101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) affects approximately 26% of women of childbearing age globally, presenting with 3-5 times increased risk of miscarriage and two-fold risk of pre-term birth. Antibiotics (metronidazole and clindamycin) are typically employed to treat BV; however the success rate is low due to the formation of recalcitrant polymicrobial biofilms. As a novel therapeutic, promising results have been obtained in vitro using Gardnerella endolysins, although to date their efficacy has only been demonstrated against simple biofilm models. In this study, a four-species biofilm was developed consisting of Gardnerella vaginalis, Fannyhessea vaginae, Prevotella bivia and Mobiluncus curtisii. Biofilms were grown in NYC III broth and treated using antibiotics and an anti-Gardnerella endolysin (CCB7.1) for 24 h. Biofilm composition, viability and structure were assessed using colony counts, live/dead qPCR and scanning electron microscopy. All species colonised biofilms to varying degrees, with G. vaginalis being the most abundant. Biofilm composition remained largely unchanged when challenged with escalated concentrations of conventional antibiotics. A Gardnerella-targeted endolysin candidate (CCB7.1) showed efficacy against several Gardnerella species planktonically, and significantly reduced viable G. vaginalis within polymicrobial biofilms at 1 to 4X pMIC (p < 0.05 vs. vehicle control). Collectively, this study highlights the resilience of biofilm-embedded pathogens against the currently used antibiotics and provides a polymicrobial model that allows for more effective pre-clinical screening of BV therapies. The Gardnerella-specific endolysin CCB7.1 demonstrated significant activity against G. vaginalis within polymicrobial biofilms, altering the overall community dynamic and composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Johnston
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow, G4 0BA, United Kingdom,Glasgow Biofilm Research Network, United Kingdom
| | - Alicia Ware
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow, G4 0BA, United Kingdom,Glasgow Biofilm Research Network, United Kingdom
| | - Willemijn Frederique Kuiters
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow, G4 0BA, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher Delaney
- Glasgow Biofilm Research Network, United Kingdom,Oral Sciences Research Group, University of Glasgow, 378 Sauchiehall Street, G2 3JZ, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Jason Lee Brown
- Glasgow Biofilm Research Network, United Kingdom,Oral Sciences Research Group, University of Glasgow, 378 Sauchiehall Street, G2 3JZ, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Suzanne Hagen
- Midwifery and Allied Health Professions Research Unit, Glasgow Caledonian University, Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow, G4 0BA, United Kingdom
| | - David Corcoran
- CC Biotech Ltd, Imperial Translation and Innovation Hub, 84 Wood Lane, London, W12 0BZ, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew Cummings
- CC Biotech Ltd, Imperial Translation and Innovation Hub, 84 Wood Lane, London, W12 0BZ, United Kingdom
| | - Gordon Ramage
- Glasgow Biofilm Research Network, United Kingdom,Oral Sciences Research Group, University of Glasgow, 378 Sauchiehall Street, G2 3JZ, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Ryan Kean
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow, G4 0BA, United Kingdom,Glasgow Biofilm Research Network, United Kingdom,Corresponding author. Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow, G4 0BA, United Kingdom.
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