Article
Virology
Meity Mardiana, Soon-Hian Teh, Ling-Chun Lin, Nien-Tsung Lin
Summary: In this study, a phage TCUP2199 that can infect multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MDRAB) was isolated and characterized. TCUP2199 belongs to the Siphoviridae family, has a wide host range, rapid adsorption, and stability. It can be included in a phage cocktail for the treatment of A. baumannii infection.
Article
Microbiology
Wenyi Peng, Fei Zeng, Zhiying Wu, Zeyuan Jin, Wanxia Li, Mingzhuo Zhu, Qiuping Wang, Yigang Tong, Lili Chen, Qinqin Bai
Summary: This study identified a temperate phage, 5W, that infects multidrug-resistant Acineto-bacter baumannii. 5W has rapid adsorption, short latency period, and moderate burst size. Its genome does not contain any known virulence and antibiotic resistance genes.
ARCHIVES OF MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Meity Mardiana, Soon-Hian Teh, Yun-Chan Tsai, Hsueh-Hui Yang, Ling-Chun Lin, Nien-Tsung Lin
Summary: This study characterizes a novel temperate phage ABMM1 with antibacterial activity against A. baumannii. ABMM1 has a fast adsorption rate, short latent periods, and is relatively stable at various temperatures and neutral pH. Genomic analysis confirms the absence of antibiotic-resistance genes or virulence-related factors in ABMM1. Despite its ability to integrate into the host chromosome, high MOI of ABMM1 effectively kills host bacterial cells and reduces the fatality rate of bacterial infection in the zebrafish model.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Editorial Material
Microbiology
Brianna M. Eales, Vincent H. Tam
Summary: This article presents a challenging case of ventilator-associated pneumonia in which bacteriophage therapy was used as a last resort treatment in combination with systemic antibiotics. The data are promising, and several key areas for future research are highlighted.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Tyler Pattenden, Christine Eagles, Lindi M. Wahl
Summary: Bacteria with shorter doubling time and pathogenic species are more likely to carry prophages. A bioinformatics pipeline was developed to analyze the distribution, length, and gene content of prophages in fast- and slow-growing lysogens, as well as pathogenic and non-pathogenic lysogens. The study predicts differences in lysogeny rates and gene content among host classes and confirms the preferential loss of certain proteins in cryptic prophages.
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Miaomiao Wu, Yanpeng Zhu, Yuhui Yang, Yali Gong, Zongyue Chen, Binyou Liao, Yu Xiong, Xia Zhou, Yan Li
Summary: This study aimed to isolate and characterize novel oral phages using culture-omics method. A total of 75 bacterial strains were successfully isolated, revealing 14 potential new bacterial species. Additionally, a temperate phage targeting a specific oral commensal bacterium was isolated, indicating a potential role of oral phages in regulating oral microbiome and diseases.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Fernando Gordillo Altamirano, John H. Forsyth, Ruzeen Patwa, Xenia Kostoulias, Michael Trim, Dinesh Subedi, Stuart K. Archer, Faye C. Morris, Cody Oliveira, Luisa Kielty, Denis Korneev, Moira K. O'Bryan, Trevor J. Lithgow, Anton Y. Peleg, Jeremy J. Barr
Summary: The study found that the bacterial capsule of Acinetobacter baumannii serves as the receptor for the phages phi FG02 and phi CO01. Mutants resistant to the phages had mutations in genes responsible for capsule biosynthesis, leading to loss of capsule and disruption of phage adsorption. These phage-resistant strains showed decreased susceptibility to human complement, beta-lactam antibiotics, and alternative phages, and exhibited reduced fitness in vivo. Furthermore, phage therapy was effective in treating A. baumannii infection in a mouse model.
NATURE MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Virology
Qihang Tu, Mingfang Pu, Yahao Li, Yuer Wang, Maochen Li, Lihua Song, Mengzhe Li, Xiaoping An, Huahao Fan, Yigang Tong
Summary: This paper describes the different drug resistances and basic properties of Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii), and analyzes the interaction between phages and their hosts. It also focuses on A. baumannii phage therapies, discussing the chance and challenge of phage therapy. The aim of this paper is to provide a more comprehensive understanding of A. baumannii phages and theoretical support for their clinical application.
Article
Virology
Kyeongmin Kim, Md Maidul Islam, Dooyoung Kim, Sung Ho Yun, Jungmin Kim, Je Chul Lee, Minsang Shin
Summary: Acinetobacter baumannii is a nosocomial pathogen worldwide, posing a challenge due to the emergence of multidrug-resistant strains. A novel bacteriophage, phi Ab1656-2, was isolated from clinical A. baumannii 1656-2, showing potential as a therapeutic agent against MDRAB. Its endolysin, AbEndolysin, demonstrated significant antibacterial activity against MDRAB clinical strains, suggesting it as a potential antimicrobial agent.
Article
Virology
Gamaliel Lopez-Leal, Alejandro Reyes-Munoz, Rosa Isela Santamaria, Miguel A. Cevallos, Carlos Perez-Monter, Santiago Castillo-Ramirez
Summary: This study characterized a bacteriophage Ab11510-phi isolated from a multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii strain, revealing its narrow host range and classification within the Vieuvirus genus. Furthermore, the study highlighted the high level of mosaicism in Ab11510-phi and emphasized the importance of comparative genomics and phylogenetic analysis for proper characterization of phage diversity.
ARCHIVES OF VIROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Virology
Luokai Wang, Jiayue Zhang, Xing Liu, Houqi Ning, Hong Lin, Jingxue Wang
Summary: The article introduces a novel lytic Stenotrophomonas maltophilia phage isolated from sewage in China, providing morphological and genomic analysis. This phage demonstrates stability in a wide pH and temperature range, suggesting its potential use against multidrug-resistant bacteria.
Article
Virology
Olga Yu Timoshina, Mikhail M. Shneider, Peter Evseev, Anastasia S. Shchurova, Andrey A. Shelenkov, Yulia Mikhaylova, Olga S. Sokolova, Anastasia A. Kasimova, Nikolay P. Arbatsky, Andrey S. Dmitrenok, Yuriy A. Knirel, Konstantin A. Miroshnikov, Anastasia Popova
Summary: The study focused on a novel pathogenic bacteriophage Aristophanes which can affect the sugar polysaccharide structure of A.baumannii strains, belonging to a new genus of the subfamily Beijerinckvirinae of the family Autographiviridae.
Article
Virology
Laura Kaliniene, Algirdas Noreika, Algirdas Kaupinis, Mindaugas Valius, Edvinas Jurgelaitis, Justas Lazutka, Rita Meskiene, Rolandas Meskys
Summary: This study isolated and characterized a novel bacteriophage, vB_AchrS_AchV4, from Achromobacter spanius, expanding our understanding of genetic diversity and evolution of Achromobacter phages. The phage is a unique siphovirus with no close relatives among known tailed phages, containing 82 protein-coding genes and no tRNA genes.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Jacob Cote, Colin Welch, Madeline Kimble, Dakota Archambault, John Curtis Ross, Hector Orellana, Katelyn Amero, Claire Bourett, Andre Daigle, Keith W. Hutchison, Sally D. Molloy
Summary: Mycobacterium abscessus is an emerging pathogen that is highly drug-resistant and poses a concern for cystic fibrosis and immunocompromised patients. It carries prophages that are believed to contribute to its virulence and bacterial fitness. A specific prophage, McProf, was identified in a strain of Mycobacterium chelonae and was found to increase its antibiotic resistance and drive the expression of antibiotic resistance genes when superinfected by another phage. Similar prophage genomes were also discovered in clinical isolates of Mycobacterium abscessus, forming a novel cluster called MabR.
G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Carina Mueller, Sandra Reuter, Julia Wille, Kyriaki Xanthopoulou, Danuta Stefanik, Hajo Grundmann, Paul G. Higgins, Harald Seifert
Summary: This study conducted molecular epidemiology and global distribution research on 313 carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from 114 study centers in 47 countries. The results revealed a wide variation in the distribution of carbapenemase encoding genes among different geographical regions.
Editorial Material
Virology
Mikael Skurnik
Article
Microbiology
Jens Andre Hammerl, Andrea Barac, Anja Bienert, Aslihan Demir, Niklas Drueke, Claudia Jaeckel, Nina Matthies, Jin Woo Jun, Mikael Skurnik, Juliane Ulrich, Stefan Hertwig
Summary: This study found that Yersinia pseudotuberculosis phages with a broad host range can be easily isolated from zoo animals, especially birds.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Karolina Filik, Bozena Szermer-Olearnik, Joanna Niedziolka-Jonson, Ewa Rozniecka, Jaroslaw Ciekot, Anna Pyra, Irwin Matyjaszczyk, Mikael Skurnik, Ewa Brzozowska
Summary: Yersiniosis is an infectious zoonotic disease caused by two enteropathogenic species of Yersinia bacteria. It is usually transmitted to humans through contaminated food. Reliable diagnosis of Yersiniosis is difficult, but phage adhesins may be a promising diagnostic tool.
Article
Virology
Shimaa Badawy, Zakaria A. M. Baka, Mohamed Abou-Dobara, Ahmed K. A. El-Sayed, Mikael Skurnik
Summary: Characterization of bacteriophages can provide valuable information about their biology, host specificity, genomic diversity, and adaptation to bacterial hosts. In this study, a bacteriophage fEg-Eco19 was isolated and characterized, which showed effectiveness against the clinical pathogen Escherichia coli. The phage belongs to the order Caudovirales and has a narrow host range. Its genome is 45,805 bp long with 76 predicted genes, which are involved in various functional groups.
ARCHIVES OF VIROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Miguel V. Gomez-Raya-Vilanova, Katarzyna Leskinen, Arnab Bhattacharjee, Pasi Virta, Petja Rosenqvist, Jake L. R. Smith, Oliver W. Bayfield, Christina Homberger, Tobias Kerrinnes, Joerg Vogel, Maria Pajunen, Mikael Skurnik
Summary: YerA41 is an unconventional phage that packages thymidine-modified genomic DNA into its capsids along with its own DNAP.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Qiao Li, Chenglin Ye, Fei Zhao, Wenjin Li, Sizhe Zhu, Yin Lv, Chae Gyu Park, Yingmiao Zhang, Ling-Yu Jiang, Kun Yang, Yingxia He, Huahua Cai, Song Zhang, Hong-Hui Ding, Olivia Adhiambo Njiri, John Mambwe Tembo, Ayman Ahmad Alkraiem, An-Yi Li, Zi-Yong Sun, Wei Li, Mei-Ying Yan, Biao Kan, Xixiang Huo, John D. Klena, Mikael Skurnik, Andrey P. Anisimov, Xiaofang Gao, Yanping Han, Rui-Fu Yang, Xiding Xiamu, Yuanzhi Wang, Hongxiang Chen, Bao Chai, Yicheng Sun, Jingping Yuan, Tie Chen
Summary: The Pla of Yersinia pestis and the PgtE of Salmonella enterica may have a common evolutionary origin, and the interaction between DEC-205 and PgtE plays a role in promoting the dissemination and infection of Y. pestis.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Mikael Skurnik
Summary: Due to the increasing antibiotic resistance, it is necessary to address the issue promptly. Phage therapy, as a precision therapy for bacterial infections, has gained attention, but there are still unresolved issues such as clear instructions, practical experience, and seamless coordination.
Article
Immunology
Rebekah M. Dedrick, Bailey E. Smith, Madison Cristinziano, Krista G. Freeman, Deborah Jacobs-Sera, Yvonne Belessis, A. Whitney Brown, Keira A. Cohen, Rebecca M. Davidson, David van Duin, Andrew Gainey, Cristina Berastegui Garcia, C. R. Robert George, Ghady Haidar, Winnie Ip, Jonathan Iredell, Ameneh Khatami, Jessica S. Little, Kirsi Malmivaara, Brendan J. McMullan, David E. Michalik, Andrea Moscatelli, Jerry A. Nick, Maria G. Tupayachi Ortiz, Hari M. Polenakovik, Paul D. Robinson, Mikael Skurnik, Daniel A. Solomon, James Soothill, Helen Spencer, Peter Wark, Austen Worth, Robert T. Schooley, Constance A. Benson, Graham F. Hatfull
Summary: Bacteriophage therapy shows potential as an adjunctive treatment for nontuberculous Mycobacterium infections. This study observed no adverse reactions, favorable outcomes in at least 50% of patients, and no evidence of phage resistance.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Katarzyna Kasperkiewicz, Anna S. Swierzko, Mateusz Michalski, Lukasz Eppa, Mikael Skurnik, Zbigniew Zuber, Maciej Cedzynski
Summary: This study found that chemotype-specific antibodies to Yersinia enterocolitica O:3 LPS were present in synovial fluids from patients with arthritis, with high titers of antibodies specifically recognizing the Kdo-lipid A region. Western blot analysis showed antibodies reacting with fast-migrating LPS fractions and enterobacterial common antigen (ECA). Furthermore, in vitro experiments confirmed that Yersinia LPS processing leads to the exposure of its core region and enhanced potency of complement lectin pathway activation.
JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Virology
Emna Grami, Shimaa Badawy, Saija Kiljunen, Neila Saidi, Mikael Skurnik
Summary: The rise of antibiotic resistance has led to exploration of alternative treatments like phage therapy. This study characterized the Escherichia phage fBC-Eco01, which has siphovirus morphology. The genome analysis indicated that fBC-Eco01 is closely related to phages that infect Enterobacter, Raoultella, and Escherichia strains.
ARCHIVES OF VIROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Sheetal Patpatia, Eric Schaedig, Anna Dirks, Lauri Paasonen, Mikael Skurnik, Saija Kiljunen
Summary: Phage therapy is an alternative method to treat infections caused by antibiotic resistant bacteria, where a rapid hydrogel-based liquid phage susceptibility assay was successfully established for the selection of therapeutic phages in this study. Different chemical stabilizers were evaluated for their effect on phage stability, showing varying results among different phages and a need for individual optimization.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Virology
Anna Kolsi, Kaisa Haukka, Victorien Dougnon, Alidehou Jerrold Agbankpe, Kafayath Fabiyi, Marko Virta, Mikael Skurnik, Anu Kantele, Saija Kiljunen
Summary: In this study, three phages were isolated from Beninese hospital wastewater that can be used for treating infections caused by A. baumannii in Finnish patients. However, these phages have a narrow host range, which may limit their therapeutic use.
ARCHIVES OF VIROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Ellisiv Nyhamar, Paige Webber, Olivia Liong, Ozgenur Yilmaz, Maria Pajunen, Mikael Skurnik, Xing Wan
Summary: In the battle against antimicrobial resistance, the need to find new antibiotic strategies is urgent. Bacteriophages, a largely unexplored resource, show potential as antimicrobial agents. This study focused on Hypothetical Proteins of Unknown Function (HPUFs) from a Staphylococcus phage Stab21, and found that some of these HPUFs exhibited cross-species toxicity towards E. coli, indicating shared molecular targets. By identifying a toxic antibacterial HPUF (toxHPUF) with homology to a homing endonuclease, this study contributes to the exploration of phage biology and offers promise in the search for potent antimicrobial agents.
