Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 27, 2026

Targeting Biofilm Associated Staphylococcus aureus Using Resazurin Based Drug-susceptibility Assay
10:00

Targeting Biofilm Associated Staphylococcus aureus Using Resazurin Based Drug-susceptibility Assay

Published on: May 5, 2016

Characterization of induced Staphylococcus aureus bacteriophage SAP-26 and its anti-biofilm activity with rifampicin

Marzia Rahman1, Shukho Kim, Sung Min Kim

  • 1Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 700-422, Republic of Korea.

Biofouling
|November 5, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Phage SAP-26 effectively targets Staphylococcus aureus biofilms. Combining this lytic bacteriophage with rifampicin offers a novel strategy for eradicating bacterial infections and biofilms.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Bacteriophage Therapy
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Bacterial infectious diseases pose significant challenges, with Staphylococcus aureus being a common pathogen.
  • Antimicrobial resistance necessitates the exploration of alternative therapeutic strategies.
  • Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that infect bacteria and have shown potential as antimicrobial agents.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To isolate and characterize a novel lytic bacteriophage targeting Staphylococcus aureus.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of phage SAP-26, alone and in combination with antimicrobial agents, against S. aureus biofilms.
  • To investigate the potential of phage-antibiotic combinations for treating S. aureus infections.

Main Methods:

  • Isolation and characterization of lytic bacteriophage SAP-26 from a clinical Staphylococcus aureus isolate.
  • Genomic analysis of phage SAP-26 (41,207 bp double-stranded DNA, 63 open reading frames).
  • Assessment of phage SAP-26's lytic activity against methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA).
  • Evaluation of combined treatment effects of phage SAP-26 and antimicrobial agents on S. aureus biofilm removal.

Main Results:

  • Phage SAP-26 demonstrated broad lytic activity against both MRSA and MSSA strains.
  • Combined treatment with phage SAP-26 and antimicrobial agents significantly reduced S. aureus biofilms.
  • The combination of phage SAP-26 and rifampicin exhibited the most potent biofilm removal effect, inducing structural changes and reducing bacterial numbers.

Conclusions:

  • Phage SAP-26 is a promising therapeutic agent due to its broad host range against S. aureus.
  • The combination of phage SAP-26 and rifampicin represents a novel and effective approach for eradicating S. aureus biofilms.
  • This study highlights the potential of phage-antibiotic synergy in combating challenging bacterial infections.

More Related Videos

Biosensor for Detection of Antibiotic Resistant Staphylococcus Bacteria14:04

Biosensor for Detection of Antibiotic Resistant Staphylococcus Bacteria

Published on: May 8, 2013

A Platform of Anti-biofilm Assays Suited to the Exploration of Natural Compound Libraries09:39

A Platform of Anti-biofilm Assays Suited to the Exploration of Natural Compound Libraries

Published on: December 27, 2016

Related Concept Videos

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance01:25

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within the One...
Biofilms01:29

Biofilms

Biofilms are complex communities of microorganisms encased in a self-produced extracellular polysaccharide matrix attached to surfaces. These microbial consortia can include single or multiple species, providing enhanced survival benefits by forming organized, multilayered structures.The formation of biofilms occurs through four key stages: attachment, colonization, development, and dispersal.During attachment, free-swimming planktonic cells adhere to a surface, often facilitated by...
Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing01:28

Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing

Quorum sensing is a mechanism of bacterial communication that enables coordinated gene expression in response to changes in population density. This facilitates collective behaviors that enhance survival, resource acquisition, and ecological adaptation. This process relies on small signaling molecules called autoinducers that accumulate as bacterial populations grow. When a critical threshold concentration of autoinducers is reached, bacterial cells collectively modify gene expression,...