Abstract
We performed a study to (i) investigate efficacy of an Escherichia coli/Salmonella spp./Listeria monocytogenes-targeting bacteriophage cocktail (tentatively named F.O.P.) to reduce a human pathogenic E. coli strain O157:H7 in experimentally infected mice, and (ii) determine how bacteriophages impact the normal gut microbiota when compared with antibiotic therapy. A total of 85 mice were inoculated with E. coli O157:H7 strain Ec231 [nalidixic acid resistant (NalAcR)] via oral gavage, and were randomized into six groups separated into three categories: 1st category received PBS or No phage/No PBS (control), 2nd category received either F.O.P., F.O.P. at 1:10 dilution, or only the E. coli phage component of F.O.P. (EcoShield PXTM), and 3rd category received the antibiotic ampicillin. All therapies were administered twice daily for four consecutive days including before and after bacterial challenge; except ampicillin which was administered only before and after bacterial challenge on day 0. Fecal samples were collected at Days 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, and 10. Samples were homogenized and plated on LB plates supplemented with NalAc to determine viable Ec231 counts. Body weights were measured at every fecal sample collection point. qPCR was performed using specific E. coli O157:H7 primers to quantify the number of E. coli O157:H7 genome copies. Microbiota community profiles were analyzed using Denature Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE) and 16S rRNA sequencing. F.O.P. significantly (P < 0.05) reduced E. coli O157:H7 pathogen counts by 54%. Ampicillin therapy significantly (P < 0.05) reduced E. coli O157:H7 pathogen counts by 79%. Greater initial weight-loss occurred in mice treated with ampicillin (−5.44%) compared to other treatment groups. No notable changes in the gut microbiota profiles were observed for control and F.O.P. groups. In contrast, the antibiotic group displayed noticeable distortion of the gut microbiota composition, only partially returning to normal by Day 10. In conclusion, we found that F.O.P. administration was effective in reducing viable E. coli O157:H7 in infected mice with a similar efficacy to ampicillin therapy. However, the F.O.P. bacteriophage preparation had less impact on the gut microbiota compared to ampicillin.
Highlights
Antibiotic resistance has become increasingly problematic over recent decades
Several bacteriophage products targeting Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., and Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7 recently received Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status from the FDA, and they are increasingly utilized by the food industry in the United States for improving the safety of various foods, including ready-to-eat foods (Clokie et al, 2011; Chang et al, 2014; Moye et al, 2018)
Viable E. coli O157:H7 counts were reduced in all three bacteriophage treatment groups on Days 1 and 2 post-challenge, with an observed dose response for F.O.P. (Figure 2)
Summary
With limited development of novel antibiotic drugs, antibiotic resistance poses an increasingly severe threat to the health of the general population. Bacteriophage (or phage) therapy utilizes naturally occurring lytic bacteriophages (viruses that infect and lyse bacteria), which can be isolated from common environmental reservoirs, to target and destroy pathogenic bacteria in a human host. Several bacteriophage products targeting Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., and Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7 recently received Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status from the FDA, and they are increasingly utilized by the food industry in the United States for improving the safety of various foods, including ready-to-eat foods (Clokie et al, 2011; Chang et al, 2014; Moye et al, 2018)
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