Interactions between antimicrobials impact jumbo phage control of Burkholderia glumae

Bacteriophage combination treatments, which combine the lytic activity of naturally occurring viruses (bacteriophages or phages) with other phages and chemical control agents, have emerged as promising options for managing bacterial pests of major food crops. However, antagonistic interactions between antimicrobials can occur, and investigation of the interplay between phage biocontrol agents and crop-approved antibiotics is crucial for the development of effective crop protection strategies. Here, we explore the interactions between therapeutically promising jumbo bacteriophage S13, newly isolated Burkholderia glumae phages, and crop-relevant antibiotics. We find that S13 cooperates with certain soil-derived temperate phages to improve growth suppression of B. glumae in vitro, and further experimentation reveals that unique phage-host interactions may contribute to these dynamics. Furthermore, we identify various interactions ranging from synergy to antagonism with crop-relevant antibiotics, suggesting that phage-antibiotic combination strategies require situational consideration. Toward the future development of new rice protection strategies, these findings propose phage combination treatments as an important area of research, and bring awareness to the complex interactions between phages, antibiotics, and B. glumae.