Novel Bacteriophage Specific against Staphylococcus epidermidis and with Antibiofilm Activity

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Staphylococcus epidermidis is a primary cause of indwelling medical device infections.
• Antibiotic resistance and biofilm formation complicate treatment, posing a significant public health challenge.
• Novel therapeutic strategies are urgently needed to address these resilient infections.

Purpose of the Study:

• To isolate and characterize a novel bacteriophage targeting Staphylococcus epidermidis.
• To evaluate the therapeutic potential of the isolated bacteriophage against S. epidermidis infections.

Main Methods:

• Isolation and genomic/phenotypic characterization of bacteriophage CUB-EPI_14 from sewage.
• Assessment of phage stability across various temperatures and pH levels.
• Evaluation of antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity against S. epidermidis isolates.

Main Results:

• Bacteriophage CUB-EPI_14 possesses a 46,098 bp genome with 63 predicted genes, lacking lysogeny or virulence factors.
• The phage exhibits stability across a broad temperature range (-20°C to 50°C) and pH (3-12).
• CUB-EPI_14 demonstrated potent antimicrobial and antibiofilm efficacy against a susceptible S. epidermidis isolate.

Conclusions:

• Bacteriophage CUB-EPI_14 is a promising candidate for treating Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm-associated infections.
• Its stability and potent activity highlight its potential as a novel therapeutic agent.
• Further research into phage therapy could provide new solutions for difficult-to-treat medical device infections.