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Characterization of an Enterococcus faecalis Bacteriophage vB_EfaM_LG1 and Its Synergistic Effect With Antibiotic

Min Song1, Dongmei Wu1, Yang Hu1

  • 1Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.

Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
|August 2, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Bacteriophage therapy shows promise against antibiotic-resistant Enterococcus faecalis. Combining phages with antibiotics offers a synergistic approach, enhancing bacterial killing and preventing phage resistance.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Bacteriophage Therapy

Background:

  • Enterococcus faecalis is an opportunistic pathogen causing pneumonia and bacteremia, particularly in stroke patients.
  • Antibiotic resistance in hospital-associated E. faecalis presents a significant public health challenge.
  • Bacteriophage therapy is an emerging alternative for treating antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize a lytic Enterococcus faecalis bacteriophage, Vb_EfaM_LG1.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of bacteriophage monotherapy and phage-antibiotic combination therapy against E. faecalis.
  • To investigate the development of phage resistance and the synergistic effects of combined therapies.

Main Methods:

  • Isolation and characterization of the lytic Enterococcus faecalis Vb_EfaM_LG1 bacteriophage.
  • Genomic analysis of the bacteriophage for antibiotic resistance and virulence genes.
  • In vitro assessment of bacteriophage and antibiotic efficacy, including combination therapy.
  • Evaluation of biofilm disruption and prevention of phage resistance.

Main Results:

  • The Vb_EfaM_LG1 bacteriophage demonstrated lytic activity against E. faecalis, with a genome free of resistance and virulence genes.
  • Phage monotherapy provided short-term inhibition of E. faecalis, but rapid phage resistance emerged within hours.
  • The combination of antibiotics and bacteriophage Vb_EfaM_LG1 exhibited significant synergistic effects, preventing phage resistance and efficiently disrupting biofilms.
  • Phage-antibiotic combination therapy demonstrated superior killing efficiency against E. faecalis compared to monotherapy.

Conclusions:

  • Bacteriophage Vb_EfaM_LG1 is a promising candidate for Enterococcus faecalis treatment.
  • Combining bacteriophages with antibiotics is a potent strategy to overcome E. faecalis infections and prevent resistance development.
  • Phage-antibiotic combination therapy offers enhanced efficacy and biofilm disruption, representing a valuable approach for combating antibiotic-resistant E. faecalis.
Keywords:
Enterococcus faecalisantibiotic resistancebacteriophagephage therapyphage-antibiotic combination

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