Genomic characterization of bacteriophage BI-EHEC infecting strains of Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli

Application of BI-EHEC and BI-EPEC bacteriophages to control enterohemorrhagic and enteropathogenic escherichia coli on various food surfaces

OBJECTIVES

The purposes of this study were to determine the Efficiency of Plating (EOP) value of Bacteriophage BI-EHEC and BI-EPEC and to evaluate the application of these bacteriophages in reducing population of EHEC and EPEC on various food samples.

RESULTS

In this study, we used bacteriophage BI-EHEC and BI-EPEC, which were isolated from previous study. Both phages were tested with other multiple pathotypes of intestinal pathogenic E. coli to determine the efficiency of plating. BI-EHEC had high efficiency toward ETEC with an EOP value of 2.95 but low efficiency toward EHEC with an EOP value of 0.10, while BI-EPEC had high efficiency toward EHEC and ETEC with EOP values of 1.10 and 1.21, respectively. As biocontrol agents, both bacteriophages able to reduce CFU of EHEC and EPEC in several food samples using 1 and 6-days incubation times at 4 [Formula: see text]. BI-EHEC reduced the number of EHEC with an overall percentage of bacterial reduction value above 0.13 log₁₀, while BI-EPEC reduced number of EPEC with reduction value above 0.33 log₁₀.

Phage Revolution Against Multidrug-Resistant Clinical Pathogens in Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia (SEA) can be considered a hotspot of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) worldwide. As recent surveillance efforts in the region reported the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens, the pursuit of therapeutic alternatives against AMR becomes a matter of utmost importance. Phage therapy, or the use of bacterial viruses called bacteriophages to kill bacterial pathogens, is among the standout therapeutic prospects. This narrative review highlights the current understanding of phages and strategies for a phage revolution in SEA. We define phage revolution as the radical use of phage therapy in infectious disease treatment against MDR infections, considering the scientific and regulatory standpoints of the region. We present a three-phase strategy to encourage a phage revolution in the SEA clinical setting, which involves: (1) enhancing phage discovery and characterization efforts, (2) creating and implementing laboratory protocols and clinical guidelines for the evaluation of phage activity, and (3) adapting regulatory standards for therapeutic phage formulations. We hope that this review will open avenues for scientific and policy-based discussions on phage therapy in SEA and eventually lead the way to its fullest potential in countering the threat of MDR pathogens in the region and worldwide.