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Updated: Sep 16, 2025

Author Spotlight: Advancing Antibiotic Resistance Research Using an Efflux-Deficient Bacterial Strain and a Single-Copy Gene Expression System
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Author Spotlight: Advancing Antibiotic Resistance Research Using an Efflux-Deficient Bacterial Strain and a Single-Copy Gene Expression System

Published on: January 5, 2024

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Genomic and Functional Characterization of Novel Phages Targeting Multidrug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii

Alma Karen Orozco-Ochoa1, Beatriz Quiñones2, Jean Pierre González-Gómez1

  • 1Laboratorio Nacional para la Investigación en Inocuidad Alimentaria (LANIIA), Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C. (CIAD), Carretera a Eldorado Km 5.5, Campo El Diez, Culiacán 80110, Sinaloa, Mexico.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|July 12, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Eight novel phages show significant lytic activity against multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, offering potential as antibacterial alternatives. These phages, classified as new Kagunavirus species, lack virulence genes and are safe for further development.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Virology
  • Genomics

Background:

  • Acinetobacter baumannii is a significant opportunistic pathogen causing worldwide nosocomial infections.
  • Multidrug resistance in A. baumannii necessitates the development of novel therapeutic strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To isolate and characterize bacteriophages with lytic activity against multidrug-resistant A. baumannii.
  • To evaluate the potential of these phages as antibacterial alternatives.

Main Methods:

  • Isolation and characterization of eight bacteriophages (AKO8a, PS118, B612, MCR, IDQ7, 89P13, CRL20, and CIM23).
  • Genomic, phylogenetic, and functional analyses of isolated phages.
  • In vitro assessment of antibacterial activity against A. baumannii using optical density measurements at various multiplicities of infection (MOIs).

Main Results:

  • Significant bacterial growth reductions ranging from 57-72% (p < 0.001) were observed.
  • Phages PS118 and 89P13 demonstrated 71% growth reduction at MOI 10.
  • Phage MCR encodes a glycosyl hydrolase family 58 (GH58) enzyme; genomic analysis confirmed the absence of virulence and antibiotic resistance genes in all isolated phages.
  • All phages were classified as novel species within the Kagunavirus genus.

Conclusions:

  • The isolated phages exhibit potent lytic activity against multidrug-resistant A. baumannii.
  • These novel Kagunavirus species are promising candidates for further in vivo evaluation as antibacterial agents.
  • The absence of virulence and antibiotic resistance genes supports their safety profile.
Keywords:
alternative intervention strategiesantimicrobial resistancemultidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumanniiphage characterizationphages

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