Characterization and Comprehensive Genome Analysis of Novel Bacteriophage, VB_Kpn_ZCKp20p, with Lytic and Anti-biofilm Potential Against Clinical Multidrug-resistant

Overview

Journal Front Cell Infect Microbiol

Specialties Cell Biology
Infectious Diseases
Microbiology

Date 2023 Feb 9

PMID 36756618

Authors

Bishoy Maher Zaki

Nada A Fahmy

Ramy Karam Aziz

Reham Samir

Ayman El-Shibiny

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction: The rise of infections by antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens is alarming. Among these, is a leading cause of death by hospital-acquired infections, and its multidrug-resistant strains are flagged as a global threat to human health, which necessitates finding novel antibiotics or alternative therapies. One promising therapeutic alternative is the use of virulent bacteriophages, which specifically target bacteria and coevolve with them to overcome potential resistance. Here, we aimed to discover specific bacteriophages with therapeutic potential against multiresistant clinical isolates.

Methods And Results: Out of six bacteriophages that we isolated from urban and medical sewage, phage vB_Kpn_ZCKp20p had the broadest host range and was thus characterized in detail. Transmission electron microscopy suggests vB_Kpn_ZCKp20p to be a tailed phage of the siphoviral morphotype. evaluation indicated a high lytic efficiency (30 min latent period and burst size of ∼100 PFU/cell), and extended stability at temperatures up to 70°C and a wide range of (2-12) pH. Additionally, phage vB_Kpn_ZCKp20p possesses antibiofilm activity that was evaluated by the crystal violet assay and was not cytotoxic to human skin fibroblasts. The whole genome was sequenced and annotated, uncovering one tRNA gene and 33 genes encoding proteins with assigned functions out of 85 predicted genes. Furthermore, comparative genomics and phylogenetic analysis suggest that vB_Kpn_ZCKp20p most likely represents a new species, but belongs to the same genus as phages ZCKP8 and 6691. Comprehensive genomic and bioinformatics analyses substantiate the safety of the phage and its strictly lytic lifestyle.

Conclusion: Phage vB_Kpn_ZCKp20p is a novel phage with potential to be used against biofilm-forming and could be a promising source for antibacterial and antibiofilm products, which will be individually studied experimentally in future studies.

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