BACTERIOPHAGE COCKTAIL EXHIBITED SUPERB ANTIBACTERIAL AND ANTIBIOFILM ACTIVITY AGAINST SELECTED UROPATHOGENS

Abstract

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are most abundant bacterial infection worldwide. Approximately 150 million urinary tract infections occur every year globally. The predominant pathogens involved in etiology of UTI are Escherichia coli followed by Staphylococcus spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus spp., Klebsiella spp., Acinetobacter spp., Enterobacter spp., Citrobacter spp., and Enterococcus spp. It is estimated that uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) cause 80% of UTIs cases. The over use of anti-microbial agents has extraordinarily amplified the rise of multidrug resistant (MDR) uropathogens. Biofilm formation by UPEC is also a major cause of antimicrobial resistance. To curb harmful ripple effects of antibiotic resistance we need to identify alternative treatment procedures. Bacteriophages are bacterial viruses that can invade and infect bacteria. Phage therapy is considered as best alternate to combat several antimicrobial resistant pathogens, including MDR uropathogens. The aim of this research was to isolate and characterize lytic bacteriophages from sewage water and to identify antibacterial and antibiofilm activity of isolated bacteriophage against UPEC. Hazara University Mansehra was the subject of the research. Bacterial samples of UPEC were collected from Ayub Teaching Hospital Abbottabad and Punjab University Lahore. Various biochemical tests including Gram staining, oxidase and catalase test were performed to identify UPEC. The isolated bacteriophages were confirmed by spot assay and plaque assay against the host bacterial strain. The phages were purified by serial dilution up to 5-6 times repeatedly. For morphological studies electron microscopy was performed. The specificity, lytic activity and efficient bacterial growth reduction ability of isolated phages in this study emphasize that these phages could be a suitable therapeutic agents for treatment of MDR infections.