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Characterization and Testing the Efficiency of Acinetobacter baumannii Phage vB-GEC_Ab-M-G7 as an Antibacterial Agent
Ia Kusradze1, Natia Karumidze1, Sophio Rigvava1
1G. Eliava Institute of Bacteriophages, Microbiology and Virology Tbilisi, Georgia.
Abstract:
Acinetobacter baumannii is a gram-negative, non-motile bacterium that, due to its multidrug resistance, has become a major nosocomial pathogen. The increasing number of multidrug resistant (MDR) strains has renewed interest in phage therapy. The aim of our study was to assess the effectiveness of phage administration in Acinetobacter baumannii wound infections in an animal model to demonstrate phage therapy as non-toxic, safe and alternative antibacterial remedy. Using classical methods for the study of bacteriophage properties, we characterized phage vB-GEC_Ab-M-G7 as a dsDNA myovirus with a 90 kb genome size. Important characteristics of vB-GEC_Ab-M-G7include a short latent period and large burst size, wide host range, resistance to chloroform and thermal and pH stability. In a rat wound model, phage application effectively decreased the number of bacteria isolated from the wounds of successfully treated animals. This study highlights the effectiveness of the phage therapy and provides further insight into treating infections caused by MDR strains using phage administration.
Insights
Phage therapy using vB-GEC_Ab-M-G7 effectively treated multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii wound infections in rats. This study demonstrates phage therapy as a safe and viable alternative antibacterial treatment.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Bacteriology
- Virology
Background:
- Acinetobacter baumannii is a significant nosocomial pathogen due to multidrug resistance (MDR).
- Increasing MDR strains necessitate alternative antibacterial strategies, with phage therapy gaining renewed interest.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of phage administration in treating Acinetobacter baumannii wound infections using an animal model.
- To establish phage therapy as a non-toxic, safe, and alternative antibacterial remedy.
Main Methods:
- Characterization of bacteriophage vB-GEC_Ab-M-G7 using classical methods, including genome size and stability assessments.
- Assessment of phage vB-GEC_Ab-M-G7 properties: host range, chloroform resistance, thermal and pH stability.
- Evaluation of phage therapy effectiveness in a rat wound infection model.
Main Results:
- Phage vB-GEC_Ab-M-G7 was characterized as a dsDNA myovirus with a 90 kb genome, exhibiting a short latent period, large burst size, wide host range, and stability.
- Phage administration significantly reduced bacterial counts in rat wound infections.
- Successful treatment demonstrated the therapeutic potential of phage therapy.
Conclusions:
- Phage therapy is an effective treatment for Acinetobacter baumannii wound infections.
- Phage vB-GEC_Ab-M-G7 shows promise as a safe and effective antibacterial agent against MDR strains.
- This study supports phage administration as a viable alternative to conventional antibiotics for MDR infections.
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