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Rapid assessment of changes in phage bioactivity using dynamic light scattering
Tejas Dharmaraj1,2, Michael J Kratochvil3, Julie D Pourtois4
1Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Beckman Center for Molecular and Genetic Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
PNAS Nexus
|December 19, 2023
Summary
Dynamic light scattering (DLS) assesses bacteriophage stability and predicts bioactivity, crucial for developing phage therapies against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This method ensures quality control for phage preparations.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Biotechnology
- Materials Science
Background:
- Bacteriophage therapy is a promising approach against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
- Phage preparation instability and lack of quality control hinder therapeutic development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess bacteriophage stability and bioactivity using dynamic light scattering (DLS).
- To optimize phage storage conditions and evaluate phage samples for therapeutic applications.
Main Methods:
- Dynamic light scattering (DLS) was employed to measure physical changes in phage preparations.
- Phage aggregation and bioactivity were correlated.
- A web application, Phage-Estimator of Lytic Function, was developed.
Main Results:
- Phages degrade and aggregate over time, with aggregation predicting bioactivity.
- DLS optimized storage conditions and evaluated archival phage stocks.
- Phage samples were assessed for wound infection models.
Conclusions:
- DLS is a rapid, non-destructive tool for quality control of bacteriophage preparations.
- This method supports academic and commercial development of phage therapies.
- Ensuring phage stability is key for effective antibiotic-resistant bacterial treatments.
