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Biological Properties of 12 Newly Isolated Acinetobacter baumannii-Specific Bacteriophages

Natalia Bagińska1, Marek Adam Harhala2, Martyna Cieślik1

  • 1Bacteriophage Laboratory, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wroclaw, Poland.

Viruses
|January 21, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Researchers isolated 12 bacteriophages targeting multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii from wastewater. These phages show promise as a novel phage therapy approach to combat antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Bacteriology
  • Virology

Background:

  • Opportunistic Gram-negative bacterium *Acinetobacter baumannii* infections pose a significant global health threat.
  • Increasing antibiotic resistance in *A. baumannii* necessitates alternative therapeutic strategies.
  • Phage therapy presents a promising alternative for treating infections caused by multi-drug resistant bacteria.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To isolate and characterize bacteriophages specific for multi-drug resistant *Acinetobacter baumannii*.
  • To evaluate the potential of these isolated phages for therapeutic applications against resistant bacterial strains.

Main Methods:

  • Screening of environmental, municipal, and hospital wastewater samples for specific bacteriophages.
  • Isolation and purification of bacteriophages targeting *A. baumannii*.
  • Determination of biological properties, including lytic spectra, plaque morphology, and optimal multiplicity of infection (MOI).
  • Morphological characterization using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM).

Main Results:

  • Twelve bacteriophages specific for *A. baumannii* were isolated, with 11 being temperate and one lytic.
  • Lytic spectra ranged from 11% to 75%, indicating broad or specific activity.
  • TEM analysis revealed most phages belong to the Siphoviridae family, possessing icosahedral capsids and long tails.
  • Optimal MOI values varied between 0.001 and 10, with determined adsorption rates.
  • Phages were tentatively classified into the *Beijerinckvirinae* and *Junivirinae* subfamilies.

Conclusions:

  • The isolated bacteriophages represent a valuable resource for developing phage therapy against *A. baumannii* infections.
  • This study contributes to the growing body of evidence supporting phage therapy as a viable alternative or supplement to antibiotics.
  • Further research into these phages could lead to novel treatments for challenging bacterial infections.
Keywords:
Acinetobacter baumanniiESKAPEantimicrobial resistancegram-negative bacteriaphages

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