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Updated: Oct 14, 2025
Alveolar Macrophage Phagocytosis and Bacteria Clearance in Mice
Published on: March 2, 2019
Evaluation of Phage Therapy for Pulmonary Infection of Mouse by Liquid Aerosol-Exposure Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Yajun Zhang1, Biao Meng2,3, Xiao Wei2
1Department of Gastroenterology, The Sixth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Background:
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important nosocomial infectious bacterium, more and more multidrug resistant P. aeruginosa have been isolated and posed severe challenges to clinical antibiotic treatment, bringing additional morbidity, mortality, and economic burden. Bacteriophages can lyse bacteria specificity and are feasible alternatives to antibiotics.
Methods:
A Pseudomonas aeruginosa-infecting phage vB_PaeP_PA01EW was isolated. Phage plaque assays, transmission electron microscopy, host-range determination, infection assay analyses, whole-genome sequencing and annotation were performed for the phage. Mice pneumonia model using liquid aerosol-exposure Pseudomonas aeruginosa was established, and phage therapy was evaluated.
Results:
vB_PaeP_PA01EW belongs to the family Podoviridae according to transmission electron microscopy and was identified as a Luz24likevirus according to the genome analysis. For the phage therapy, compared with the bacteria-infected group, the phage-rescue group has some characteristics. First, adventitial edema and diffuse infiltration of inflammatory cells in tissues were alleviated, Second, bronchial epithelial cell proliferation was reduced. Third, the bacterial burden was significantly decreased.
Conclusion:
This study provided data support and theoretical basis for the clinical application of bacteriophages. It has important guiding significance and reference value for the application of bacteriophage therapy of other pathogenic bacteria.
Insights
A novel bacteriophage, vB_PaeP_PA01EW, effectively treated Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia in mice. This phage therapy reduced inflammation and bacterial load, offering a promising alternative to antibiotics for multidrug-resistant infections.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Virology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a significant cause of hospital-acquired infections.
- Multidrug resistance in P. aeruginosa complicates antibiotic treatment, increasing patient morbidity and mortality.
- Bacteriophages offer a specific lytic mechanism as an alternative to conventional antibiotics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and characterize a bacteriophage targeting Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
- To evaluate the efficacy of phage therapy in a murine model of P. aeruginosa pneumonia.
Main Methods:
- Isolation and characterization of phage vB_PaeP_PA01EW, including electron microscopy and whole-genome sequencing.
- Establishment of a mice pneumonia model via aerosolized P. aeruginosa.
- Assessment of phage therapy efficacy through histological analysis and bacterial burden quantification.
Main Results:
- Phage vB_PaeP_PA01EW, identified as a Luz24likevirus (family Podoviridae), demonstrated therapeutic effects in mice.
- Phage therapy significantly alleviated lung inflammation, including edema and inflammatory cell infiltration.
- Treatment with vB_PaeP_PA01EW led to reduced bronchial epithelial cell proliferation and a significant decrease in bacterial burden.
Conclusions:
- The study supports the clinical application of bacteriophages for treating P. aeruginosa infections.
- Bacteriophage therapy presents a viable alternative for managing multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens.
- Findings provide a basis for phage therapy applications against other pathogenic bacteria.
