TSP, a virulent Podovirus, can control the growth of Staphylococcus aureus for 12 h

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Virology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a significant healthcare-associated pathogen resistant to multiple antibiotics.
• The rise of antibiotic resistance necessitates the exploration of alternative therapeutic strategies.
• Bacteriophage therapy presents a promising avenue for combating resistant bacterial infections.

Purpose of the Study:

• To isolate and characterize a lytic bacteriophage effective against MRSA.
• To evaluate the therapeutic potential of the isolated bacteriophage for MRSA infections.

Main Methods:

• Isolation of lytic bacteriophage TSP from hospital wastewater targeting MRSA.
• Assessment of phage lytic activity, stability at various temperatures and pH levels.
• Determination of phage latent period and burst size.
• Genomic analysis including sequence and restriction analysis, comparative genomics, and phylogenetic tree construction.

Main Results:

• Phage TSP demonstrated efficient inhibition of MRSA growth for up to 12 hours.
• The phage exhibited activity against diverse MRSA and MSSA isolates.
• TSP phage showed stability across a range of temperatures (25°C, 37°C) and pH values (5-9), with optimal stability at 4°C.
• Genomic analysis revealed a linear genome of 17,987 bp, classifying TSP as a member of the P68viruses genus, with a short latent period (20 min) and burst size of 103 pfu/cell.

Conclusions:

• Bacteriophage TSP possesses strong lytic activity and favorable characteristics for potential therapeutic use against MRSA.
• Its stability, broad activity spectrum, and genomic features make it a promising candidate for phage therapy.
• Further in-vivo studies are warranted to confirm its efficacy in treating MRSA infections.