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Isolation and Genome Analysis of Single Virions using 'Single Virus Genomics'
Published on: May 26, 2013
Isolation and Characterization of Lytic Proteus Virus 309
Joshua Aaron1, Leonardo J van Zyl2, Leon M T Dicks1
1Department of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa.
Abstract:
Proteus mirabilis is frequently associated with complicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) and is the main cause of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs). Treatment of such infections is complicated and challenging due to the biofilm forming abilities of P. mirabilis. If neglected or mistreated, infections may lead to life-threating conditions such as cystitis, pyelonephritis, kidney failure, and bacteremia that may progress to urosepsis. Treatment with antibiotics, especially in cases of recurring and persistent infections, leads to the development of resistant strains. Recent insights into phage therapy and using phages to coat catheters have been evaluated with many studies showing promising results. Here, we describe a highly lytic bacteriophage, Proteus_virus_309 (41,740 bp), isolated from a wastewater treatment facility in Cape Town, South Africa. According to guidelines of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV), bacteriophage 309 is a species within the genus Novosibovirus. Similar to most members of the genus, bacteriophage 309 is strain-specific and lyse P. mirabilis in less than 20 min.
Insights
A novel bacteriophage, Proteus_virus_309, effectively lyses Proteus mirabilis, a common cause of complicated urinary tract infections. This discovery offers a promising alternative to antibiotics for treating challenging bacterial infections.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Virology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Proteus mirabilis frequently causes complicated urinary tract infections (UTIs), including catheter-associated UTIs (CAUTIs).
- P. mirabilis biofilm formation complicates treatment, potentially leading to severe conditions like pyelonephritis, kidney failure, and urosepsis.
- Antibiotic resistance is a growing concern in treating persistent P. mirabilis infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and characterize a bacteriophage with lytic activity against P. mirabilis.
- To evaluate the potential of bacteriophage therapy as an alternative treatment for P. mirabilis infections.
Main Methods:
- Isolation of bacteriophage 309 from a wastewater treatment facility.
- Genomic characterization of bacteriophage 309 (41,740 bp).
- Determination of lytic activity and host range against P. mirabilis strains.
Main Results:
- A highly lytic bacteriophage, designated Proteus_virus_309, was isolated.
- Proteus_virus_309 belongs to the genus Novosibovirus, according to ICTV guidelines.
- The bacteriophage demonstrated strain-specific lysis of P. mirabilis within 20 minutes.
Conclusions:
- Proteus_virus_309 is a potent lytic bacteriophage effective against P. mirabilis.
- Bacteriophage therapy presents a promising alternative for managing difficult P. mirabilis UTIs, potentially overcoming antibiotic resistance.
