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JD419, a Staphylococcus aureus Phage With a Unique Morphology and Broad Host Range

Tingting Feng1, Sebastian Leptihn2, Ke Dong3,4

  • 1Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.

Frontiers in Microbiology
|May 10, 2021
PubMed

Insights

A novel bacteriophage, JD219, effectively targets multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, including MRSA strains. Its genome lacks virulence genes, and it maintains stability under physiological conditions, showing therapeutic potential.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Bacteriophage Research
  • Antimicrobial Resistance

Background:

  • Multidrug-resistant bacteria, particularly methicillin and vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), pose a significant global health threat due to limited effective antibiotic options.
  • Bacteriophage therapy is emerging as a promising alternative to combat these infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To isolate and characterize a novel bacteriophage with broad-spectrum activity against Staphylococcus aureus.
  • To evaluate the safety and stability of the isolated phage for potential therapeutic applications.

Main Methods:

  • Isolation and characterization of bacteriophage JD219 from clinical samples.
  • Determination of host range against 138 clinical Staphylococcus aureus strains, including MRSA.
  • Assessment of phage stability at various pH and temperature conditions.
  • Whole-genome sequencing and bioinformatic analysis to identify virulence or antibiotic resistance genes.

Main Results:

  • Bacteriophage JD219 demonstrated a broad host range, infecting 61 out of 138 clinical Staphylococcus aureus strains, including MRSA.
  • The phage exhibited unique morphology with an elongated capsid and flexible tail.
  • JD219 remained infectious within a physiological pH range (6.0-8.0) and temperatures below 50°C.
  • Genome sequencing revealed a 45,509 bp genome with 65 ORFs, none homologous to known virulence or antibiotic resistance genes, indicating it is a temperate phage.

Conclusions:

  • Bacteriophage JD219 is a promising candidate for phage therapy against multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections.
  • Its genetic stability and lack of virulence factors, combined with broad host activity, support its therapeutic potential.
  • Further genetic engineering could optimize JD219 for enhanced therapeutic efficacy by preventing lysogeny.
Keywords:
Staphylococcus aureusbacteriophagegenomehost-rangemorphologyphage therapy

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