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Phage-Antibiotic Synergy (PAS): beta-lactam and quinolone antibiotics stimulate virulent phage growth

André M Comeau1, Françoise Tétart, Sabrina N Trojet

  • 1Laboratoire de Microbiologie et Génétique Moléculaires, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Paul Sabatier-Toulouse, Toulouse, France.

Plos One
|August 30, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Sub-lethal antibiotic concentrations can significantly boost virulent bacteriophage (phage) production in host bacteria. This Phage-Antibiotic Synergy (PAS) phenomenon is linked to bacterial cell filamentation, not the SOS response.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Bacteriology
  • Virology

Background:

  • Bacteriophage (phage) multiplication significantly impacts the biosphere.
  • Environmental factors influencing phage production are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of sub-lethal antibiotic concentrations on phage production.
  • To characterize the phenomenon of Phage-Antibiotic Synergy (PAS).

Main Methods:

  • Utilized uropathogenic Escherichia coli and phage PhiMFP to study antibiotic effects.
  • Tested diverse host-phage systems with various antibiotics (beta-lactam, quinolone) and mitomycin C.
  • Examined the role of bacterial SOS and filamentation responses in PAS.

Main Results:

  • Sub-lethal cefotaxime increased E. coli's PhiMFP production over 7-fold.
  • PAS was observed across diverse phage systems, linked to antibiotics inhibiting cell division.
  • The PAS effect is SOS-independent and primarily driven by cellular filamentation.

Conclusions:

  • Phage-Antibiotic Synergy (PAS) is a newly identified phenomenon where antibiotics stimulate phage production.
  • Cellular filamentation, induced by certain antibiotics, is the key mechanism driving PAS.
  • The widespread occurrence of PAS suggests a general advantage conferred to phages.

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