Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 5, 2026

Biosensor for Detection of Antibiotic Resistant Staphylococcus Bacteria
14:04

Biosensor for Detection of Antibiotic Resistant Staphylococcus Bacteria

Published on: May 8, 2013

25.0K

Characterization of the Three New Kayviruses and Their Lytic Activity Against Multidrug-Resistant Staphylococcus

Natalia Łubowska1, Bartłomiej Grygorcewicz2, Katarzyna Kosznik-Kwaśnicka3

  • 1Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, 80-204 Gdańsk, Poland. nlubowska@gumed.edu.pl.

Microorganisms
|October 23, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Bacteriophages targeting multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus were isolated and characterized. These phages show potential for treating S. aureus infections due to their broad host range and high lytic activity.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Virology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Antimicrobial resistance in Staphylococcus aureus is a significant global health threat.
  • Bacteriophage therapy presents a promising alternative to conventional antibiotics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To isolate and characterize bacteriophages with lytic activity against multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
  • To evaluate the potential of these phages as therapeutic agents.

Main Methods:

  • Isolation of bacteriophages from sewage.
  • Characterization of phage morphology using transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
  • Analysis of biological properties: host range, adsorption rate, latent period, burst size, and lysis profiles.
  • Genomic analysis of isolated phages.

Main Results:

  • Three myovirion bacteriophages (vB_SauM-A, vB_SauM-C, vB_SauM-D) were isolated and characterized.
  • Phage vB_SauM-A exhibited rapid adsorption, a short latent period, and a large burst size (~500 PFU/cell).
  • Genomic analysis revealed large genomes (139-140 kbp) with low G+C content (~30.4%), showing 95-97% similarity to phage K.

Conclusions:

  • The isolated bacteriophages possess a broad host range against multidrug-resistant S. aureus strains.
  • High lytic activity and a strictly virulent life cycle suggest their therapeutic potential for S. aureus infections.
Keywords:
KayvirusStaphylococcus aureusbacteriophage

More Related Videos

Improved Enzyme Protection Assay to Study Staphylococcus aureus Internalization and Intracellular Efficacy of Antimicrobial Compounds06:36

Improved Enzyme Protection Assay to Study Staphylococcus aureus Internalization and Intracellular Efficacy of Antimicrobial Compounds

Published on: September 8, 2021

3.2K
A Fluorescence-based Method to Study Bacterial Gene Regulation in Infected Tissues07:10

A Fluorescence-based Method to Study Bacterial Gene Regulation in Infected Tissues

Published on: February 19, 2019

9.4K

Related Concept Videos

Antimicrobial Effectiveness01:28

Antimicrobial Effectiveness

The effectiveness of antimicrobial agents depends on various factors influencing their ability to eliminate microbial populations. Larger microbial populations require more time for complete eradication, emphasizing the importance of population size analysis when evaluating antimicrobial efficacy.Microbial resistance to antimicrobial agents varies significantly. Highly resilient microorganisms include endospores, gram-negative bacteria, and non-enveloped viruses, while prions are exceptionally...
866
Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages01:30

Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages

Bacteriophages, also known as phages, are specialized viruses that infect bacteria. A key characteristic of phages is their distinctive “head-tail” morphology. A phage begins the infection process (i.e., lytic cycle) by attaching to the outside of a bacterial cell. Attachment is accomplished via proteins in the phage tail that bind to specific receptor proteins on the outer surface of the bacterium. The tail injects the phage’s DNA genome into the bacterial cytoplasm. In the...
77.2K
Antimicrobial Proteins01:23

Antimicrobial Proteins

Antimicrobial proteins are important components of the immune system. They aid the body in combating pathogens by either killing them directly or hindering their replication processes. Four main types of antimicrobial substances are interferons, the complement system, iron-binding proteins, and antimicrobial proteins.
Interferons
Interferons (IFNs) are proteins produced by lymphocytes, macrophages, and fibroblasts infected with viruses. While IFNs cannot prevent viruses from entering and...
12.9K
Subviral Agents01:29

Subviral Agents

Subviral agents are infectious entities that resemble viruses but lack one or more viral components, such as a capsid or essential replication machinery. These agents include viroids, prions, and satellites, each possessing distinct structural and functional characteristics that influence their mode of infection and replication.Viroids are the simplest subviral agents, consisting of circular, single-stranded RNA molecules without a protein coat. They exclusively infect plants, relying entirely...
445
Viruses of Archaea01:29

Viruses of Archaea

Archaeal viruses play a crucial role in the ecosystems of extremophilic archaea, particularly those belonging to the phyla Euryarchaeota and Crenarchaeota. By shaping host evolution and facilitating gene transfer, these viruses influence microbial communities and contribute to genetic diversity in extreme environments. The archaea they infect thrive in acidic hot springs and hydrothermal vents characterized by high temperatures and low pH. Archaeal viruses exhibit remarkable structural...
412
Viral Replication: Lytic Cycle01:20

Viral Replication: Lytic Cycle

Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that specifically infect bacteria. Among them, T-even bacteriophages, such as T4, exhibit a well-characterized lytic replication cycle in Escherichia coli (E. coli). This process ensures the rapid proliferation of the virus while ultimately leading to the destruction of the bacterial host.Attachment and DNA InjectionThe infection process begins with the recognition and binding of the T4 phage to the E. coli cell surface. Tail fibers of the phage...
1.1K