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Biosensor for Detection of Antibiotic Resistant Staphylococcus Bacteria
Published on: May 8, 2013
Strain Specific Phage Treatment for Staphylococcus aureus Infection Is Influenced by Host Immunity and Site of
Nathan B Pincus1, Jensen D Reckhow1, Danial Saleem1
1Bacterial Pathogenesis Unit, Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America.
Abstract:
The response to multi-drug resistant bacterial infections must be a global priority. While mounting resistance threatens to create what the World Health Organization has termed a "post-antibiotic era", the recent discovery that antibiotic use may adversely impact the microbiome adds further urgency to the need for new developmental approaches for anti-pathogen treatments. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), in particular, has declared itself a serious threat within the United States and abroad. A potential solution to the problem of antibiotic resistance may not entail looking to the future for completely novel treatments, but instead looking into our history of bacteriophage therapy. This study aimed to test the efficacy, safety, and commercial viability of the use of phages to treat Staphylococcus aureus infections using the commercially available phage SATA-8505. We found that SATA-8505 effectively controls S. aureus growth and reduces bacterial viability both in vitro and in a skin infection mouse model. However, this killing effect was not observed when phage was cultured in the presence of human whole blood. SATA-8505 did not induce inflammatory responses in peripheral blood mononuclear cultures. However, phage did induce IFN gamma production in primary human keratinocyte cultures and induced inflammatory responses in our mouse models, particularly in a mouse model of chronic granulomatous disease. Our findings support the potential efficacy of phage therapy, although regulatory and market factors may limit its wider investigation and use.
Insights
Bacteriophage therapy using SATA-8505 shows promise against Staphylococcus aureus infections. While effective in vitro and in mouse models, its efficacy is reduced in human blood, and it can cause inflammatory responses in certain models.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Antibiotic resistance is a growing global health crisis, necessitating novel anti-pathogen strategies.
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) poses a significant threat, driving the search for alternative treatments.
- Bacteriophage therapy, a historical approach, is being re-evaluated for its potential against resistant bacteria.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of bacteriophage SATA-8505 for treating Staphylococcus aureus infections.
- To assess the commercial viability and potential limitations of SATA-8505 phage therapy.
Main Methods:
- In vitro testing of SATA-8505 against Staphylococcus aureus.
- In vivo efficacy assessment using a mouse skin infection model.
- Evaluation of phage activity in human whole blood and inflammatory responses in human cell cultures and mouse models.
Main Results:
- SATA-8505 demonstrated effective control of Staphylococcus aureus growth and reduced bacterial viability in vitro and in a mouse model.
- Phage efficacy was diminished when cultured with human whole blood.
- SATA-8505 did not induce inflammation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells but triggered IFN-gamma production in keratinocytes and inflammatory responses in mouse models.
Conclusions:
- Bacteriophage therapy with SATA-8505 shows potential for treating Staphylococcus aureus infections.
- Further research is needed to address limitations such as reduced efficacy in blood and potential inflammatory responses.
- Regulatory and market factors may influence the broader adoption and investigation of phage therapy.
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