Efficacy of Bacteriophages Infecting Opportunistic Bacterial Pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Disciplines

Food Microbiology | Virology

Abstract (300 words maximum)

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the most prevalent opportunistic bacterial pathogen in hospital-acquired infections which may lead to diseases such as pneumonia. Previously, P. aeruginosa infections were treated with antibiotics; however, the development of antibiotic resistance in P. aeruginosa has caused treatment to be more difficult. Since the increase of difficulty in P. aeruginosa infection treatment, an increased interest in effective alternatives to antibiotics such as bacteriophages has developed. Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that infect and kill their host (bacteria). Recent studies have shown that bacteriophages are promising alternatives to antibiotics to control bacteria. This study evaluates the effectiveness of two isolated phages (Φ1 and Φ2) against P. aeruginosa. The efficacy of each phage infection against P. aeruginosa at the multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 1, 10, or 100 was evaluated in cucumber juice and beef broth (as model food systems). The Φ1 infection (regardless of the MOI used) caused 6 to 7 log reduction in host concentration within 4 hr in cucumber juice or beef broth. In contrast, it took 6 hr of Φ2 infection to achieve a similar level of reduction in host concentration in cucumber juice or beef broth. The thermal stability of Φ1 was evaluated at different temperatures (50, 63, or 72 °C). For Φ1, 72 °C caused 7 log reduction within 10 minutes. In contrast, 63 °C caused 3 log reduction over a 30-minute period and Φ1 remained stable over a 30-minute period at 50 °C. The thermal stability of Φ2 will be evaluated. These results show Φ1 may have a higher potential than Φ2 to control P. aeruginosa growth in an industry setting.

Academic department under which the project should be listed

CSM - Molecular and Cellular Biology

Primary Investigator (PI) Name

Jean Lu

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Efficacy of Bacteriophages Infecting Opportunistic Bacterial Pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the most prevalent opportunistic bacterial pathogen in hospital-acquired infections which may lead to diseases such as pneumonia. Previously, P. aeruginosa infections were treated with antibiotics; however, the development of antibiotic resistance in P. aeruginosa has caused treatment to be more difficult. Since the increase of difficulty in P. aeruginosa infection treatment, an increased interest in effective alternatives to antibiotics such as bacteriophages has developed. Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that infect and kill their host (bacteria). Recent studies have shown that bacteriophages are promising alternatives to antibiotics to control bacteria. This study evaluates the effectiveness of two isolated phages (Φ1 and Φ2) against P. aeruginosa. The efficacy of each phage infection against P. aeruginosa at the multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 1, 10, or 100 was evaluated in cucumber juice and beef broth (as model food systems). The Φ1 infection (regardless of the MOI used) caused 6 to 7 log reduction in host concentration within 4 hr in cucumber juice or beef broth. In contrast, it took 6 hr of Φ2 infection to achieve a similar level of reduction in host concentration in cucumber juice or beef broth. The thermal stability of Φ1 was evaluated at different temperatures (50, 63, or 72 °C). For Φ1, 72 °C caused 7 log reduction within 10 minutes. In contrast, 63 °C caused 3 log reduction over a 30-minute period and Φ1 remained stable over a 30-minute period at 50 °C. The thermal stability of Φ2 will be evaluated. These results show Φ1 may have a higher potential than Φ2 to control P. aeruginosa growth in an industry setting.