Characterization of Novel Lytic Myoviridae Phage Infecting Multidrug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii and Synergistic Antimicrobial Efficacy between Phage and Sacha Inchi Oil.

Phitchayapak Wintachai,Supayang Voravuthikunchai

doi:10.3390/ph15030291

Phitchayapak Wintachai, Supayang Voravuthikunchai

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/ph15030291

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Abstract

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains of Acinetobacter baumannii have become a major cause of hospital-acquired infections, resulting in an increase in morbidity and mortality worldwide. Many alternative treatments, including phage therapy, are attractive approaches for overcoming problems posed by antibiotic resistance. A newly isolated phage, vWUPSU-specific MDR A. baumannii, showed a narrow host range against MDR A. baumannii. This research was conducted to isolate, characterize, and apply the phage with sacha inchi oil as an alternative antimicrobial agent. Genome analysis suggested that phage vWUPSU is a novel phage belonging to the family Myoviridae, order Caudoviridae. This phage prevented biofilm formation and eradicated preformed biofilms in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, a synergistic antimicrobial effect of the interaction between phage vWUPSU and sacha inchi oil on planktonic cells was observed. The combination of phage and sacha inchi oil significantly inhibited and removed biofilms, compared with the effects of either single treatment. The results of this work indicate that phage vWUPSU could potentially be applied to control MDR A. baumannii. The antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of the combination of phage vWUPSU and sacha inchi oil have attracted significant interests in the development of antibacterial phage products as beneficial treatment options.

Highlights

The results demonstrated that phage vWUPSU decreased both biofilm formation and preformed biofilms in a dose-dependent manner
The results showed that the combination of phage vWUPSU at an MOI of 1 and sacha inchi oil at 0.5× minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) significantly inhibited bacterial growth (p < 0.0001)
Bacterial growth was inhibited by treatment with only sacha inchi oil at 25% (v/v), but the combination of phage vWUPSU at an MOI of 1 and sacha inchi oil at 12.5% (v/v) was able to inhibit bacterial growth and the viable bacterial cells. These results indicate that the combination of phage vWUPSU with sacha inchi oil was able to control the emergence of phage-resistant MDR A. baumannii

Summary

Introduction

Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MDR A. baumannii), a Gram-negative pathogenic bacterium, is an important causative agent of nosocomial and communityacquired infections. MDR A. baumannii causes a wide range of infections, including bloodstream infections, osteomyelitis, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and wound infections [1]. MDR A. baumannii is becoming more challenging to control and treat, resulting in increased risks in morbidity, prolonged lengths of hospital stay, prolonged lengths of ICU stay, and mortality [2]. Biofilms, which constitute the important virulence factor contributing to chronic and persistence infections of A. baumannii, are populations of bacterial cells encased in a matrix of extracellular polymeric secretions (EPS). Biofilms function as a physical barrier to antimicrobial penetration that can reduce the diffusion of antimicrobial agents, which contributes to the antimicrobial tolerance of biofilms. Biofilm matrix can protect bacterial cells from host immune defense, rendering bacterial biofilms extremely resistant to eradication

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