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Updated: Jul 7, 2025
Biosensor for Detection of Antibiotic Resistant Staphylococcus Bacteria
Published on: May 8, 2013
Isolation and Characterization of New Bacteriophages against Staphylococcal Clinical Isolates from Diabetic Foot
Lucile Plumet1, Madjid Morsli2, Nour Ahmad-Mansour1
1VBIC, INSERM U1047, University of Montpellier, 34095 Montpellier, France.
Abstract:
Staphylococcus sp. is the most common bacterial genus in infections related to diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). The emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria places a serious burden on public health systems. Phage therapy is an alternative treatment to antibiotics, overcoming the issue of antibiotic resistance. In this study, six phages (SAVM01 to SAVM06) were isolated from effluents and were used against a panel of staphylococcal clinical samples isolated from DFUs. A genomic analysis revealed that the phages belonged to the Herelleviridae family, with sequences similar to those of the Kayvirus genus. No lysogeny-associated genes, known virulence or drug resistance genes were identified in the phage genomes. The phages displayed a strong lytic and antibiofilm activity against DFU clinical isolates, as well as against opportunistic pathogenic coagulase-negative staphylococci. The results presented here suggest that these phages could be effective biocontrol agents against staphylococcal clinical isolates from DFUs.
Insights
Six novel phages show potent lytic and antibiofilm activity against Staphylococcus bacteria from diabetic foot ulcers. These phages offer a promising alternative to antibiotics for treating drug-resistant infections.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Bacteriology
- Phage Therapy
Background:
- Staphylococcus species are primary causes of diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) infections.
- Multidrug-resistant bacteria in DFUs pose a significant public health challenge.
- Antibiotic resistance necessitates alternative therapeutic strategies like phage therapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and characterize novel bacteriophages effective against Staphylococcus from DFUs.
- To evaluate the lytic and antibiofilm potential of isolated phages.
- To assess the safety of phages by analyzing their genomes for undesirable genes.
Main Methods:
- Isolation of six bacteriophages (SAVM01-SAVM06) from environmental effluents.
- Genomic sequencing and analysis of isolated phages.
- Testing phage efficacy against clinical Staphylococcus isolates from DFUs, including antibiofilm assays.
Main Results:
- Isolated phages belong to the Herelleviridae family, genus Kayvirus.
- Phage genomes lack lysogeny, virulence, and antibiotic resistance genes.
- Phages demonstrated significant lytic and antibiofilm activity against DFU isolates and coagulase-negative staphylococci.
Conclusions:
- The characterized phages are safe and effective biocontrol agents.
- These phages represent a viable alternative to antibiotics for treating Staphylococcus infections in DFUs.
- Phage therapy shows promise in combating multidrug-resistant bacteria in diabetic foot infections.
