Bacteriophages with the Ability to Degrade Uropathogenic Escherichia Coli Biofilms

Escherichia coli-associated urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections in humans. UTIs are usually managed with antibiotic therapy, but over the years, antibiotic-resistant strains of uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) have emerged. The formation of biofilms further com...

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Main Authors: Amee Manges, Josée Harel, Hans-W. Ackermann, Andrew M. Kropinski, Patrick Boerlin, Andrew Chibeu, Erika J. Lingohr, Luke Masson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2012-04-01
Series:Viruses
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/4/4/471/
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spelling doaj-49cf6672ed764b8ea28bc9107b1088882020-11-24T22:05:42ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152012-04-014447148710.3390/v4040471Bacteriophages with the Ability to Degrade Uropathogenic Escherichia Coli BiofilmsAmee MangesJosée HarelHans-W. AckermannAndrew M. KropinskiPatrick BoerlinAndrew ChibeuErika J. LingohrLuke MassonEscherichia coli-associated urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections in humans. UTIs are usually managed with antibiotic therapy, but over the years, antibiotic-resistant strains of uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) have emerged. The formation of biofilms further complicates the treatment of these infections by making them resistant to killing by the host immune system as well as by antibiotics. This has encouraged research into therapy using bacteriophages (phages) as a supplement or substitute for antibiotics. In this study we characterized 253 UPEC in terms of their biofilm-forming capabilities, serotype, and antimicrobial resistance. Three phages were then isolated (vB_EcoP_ACG-C91, vB_EcoM_ACG-C40 and vB_EcoS_ACG-M12) which were able to lyse 80.5% of a subset (42) of the UPEC strains able to form biofilms. Correlation was established between phage sensitivity and specific serotypes of the UPEC strains. The phages’ genome sequences were determined and resulted in classification of vB_EcoP_ACG-C91 as a SP6likevirus, vB_EcoM_ACG-C40 as a T4likevirus and vB_EcoS_ACG-M12 as T1likevirus. We assessed the ability of the three phages to eradicate the established biofilm of one of the UPEC strains used in the study. All phages significantly reduced the biofilm within 2–12 h of incubation.http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/4/4/471/UPECbacteriophagebiofilms
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Amee Manges
Josée Harel
Hans-W. Ackermann
Andrew M. Kropinski
Patrick Boerlin
Andrew Chibeu
Erika J. Lingohr
Luke Masson
spellingShingle Amee Manges
Josée Harel
Hans-W. Ackermann
Andrew M. Kropinski
Patrick Boerlin
Andrew Chibeu
Erika J. Lingohr
Luke Masson
Bacteriophages with the Ability to Degrade Uropathogenic Escherichia Coli Biofilms
Viruses
UPEC
bacteriophage
biofilms
author_facet Amee Manges
Josée Harel
Hans-W. Ackermann
Andrew M. Kropinski
Patrick Boerlin
Andrew Chibeu
Erika J. Lingohr
Luke Masson
author_sort Amee Manges
title Bacteriophages with the Ability to Degrade Uropathogenic Escherichia Coli Biofilms
title_short Bacteriophages with the Ability to Degrade Uropathogenic Escherichia Coli Biofilms
title_full Bacteriophages with the Ability to Degrade Uropathogenic Escherichia Coli Biofilms
title_fullStr Bacteriophages with the Ability to Degrade Uropathogenic Escherichia Coli Biofilms
title_full_unstemmed Bacteriophages with the Ability to Degrade Uropathogenic Escherichia Coli Biofilms
title_sort bacteriophages with the ability to degrade uropathogenic escherichia coli biofilms
publisher MDPI AG
series Viruses
issn 1999-4915
publishDate 2012-04-01
description Escherichia coli-associated urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections in humans. UTIs are usually managed with antibiotic therapy, but over the years, antibiotic-resistant strains of uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) have emerged. The formation of biofilms further complicates the treatment of these infections by making them resistant to killing by the host immune system as well as by antibiotics. This has encouraged research into therapy using bacteriophages (phages) as a supplement or substitute for antibiotics. In this study we characterized 253 UPEC in terms of their biofilm-forming capabilities, serotype, and antimicrobial resistance. Three phages were then isolated (vB_EcoP_ACG-C91, vB_EcoM_ACG-C40 and vB_EcoS_ACG-M12) which were able to lyse 80.5% of a subset (42) of the UPEC strains able to form biofilms. Correlation was established between phage sensitivity and specific serotypes of the UPEC strains. The phages’ genome sequences were determined and resulted in classification of vB_EcoP_ACG-C91 as a SP6likevirus, vB_EcoM_ACG-C40 as a T4likevirus and vB_EcoS_ACG-M12 as T1likevirus. We assessed the ability of the three phages to eradicate the established biofilm of one of the UPEC strains used in the study. All phages significantly reduced the biofilm within 2–12 h of incubation.
topic UPEC
bacteriophage
biofilms
url http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/4/4/471/
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