Article
Microbiology
Samuel Namonyo, Gilda Carvalho, Jianhua Guo, Karen D. Weynberg
Summary: This study isolated and characterized four novel phages against multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical strains from Australia, and proposed their potential use as phage therapy candidates.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Camilla D. de Mattos, Dominick R. Faith, Artem A. Nemudryi, Amelia K. Schmidt, DeAnna C. Bublitz, Lauren Hammond, Margie A. Kinnersley, Caleb M. Schwartzkopf, Autumn J. Robinson, Alex Joyce, Lia A. Michaels, Robert S. Brzozowski, Alison Coluccio, Denghui David Xing, Jumpei Uchiyama, Laura K. Jennings, Prahathees Eswara, Blake Wiedenheft, Patrick R. Secor
Summary: This study reveals how Pseudomonas aeruginosa assesses threats of cellular injury by using polyamines released by dying cells and linear DNA.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Francesca Forti, Claudia Bertoli, Marco Cafora, Sara Gilardi, Anna Pistocchi, Federica Briani
Summary: This study identified the receptors of 16 Pseudomonas phages and evaluated the impact of phage resistance on virulence. The findings are relevant for the implementation of phage therapy for difficult-to-treat Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Lan Yang, Tingting Zhang, Linlin Li, Chao Zheng, Demeng Tan, Nannan Wu, Mingyang Wang, Tongyu Zhu
Summary: This study characterizes the bacteriophage L5 as a potential candidate for phage therapy in treating P. aeruginosa infection. The research identifies type IV pili as the phage receptors for L5.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Yue Cao, Dipesh Khanal, Jinhee Kim, Rachel Yoon Kyung Chang, Alex Seungyeon Byun, Sandra Morales, Mark M. Banaszak Holl, Hak-Kim Chan
Summary: This study investigates the effect of common organic solvents on the stability of bacteriophages. The results show that the bacteriophages are more stable in alcohols and DMSO, and myoviruses tend to be more stable than podoviruses. The choice of solvents for phage formulation depends on the specific phage and solvent types.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Milan Gerovac, Laura Wicke, Kotaro Chihara, Cornelius Schneider, Rob Lavigne, Joerg Vogel
Summary: The study utilized Grad-seq to identify stable RNA-protein complexes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, revealing important noncoding RNAs and RNA-binding proteins. Changes in cellular RNA/protein complexes were observed after bacteriophage infection.
Article
Microbiology
Xu Yang, Anwarul Haque, Shigenobu Matsuzaki, Tetsuya Matsumoto, Shigeki Nakamura
Summary: The study investigated the use of bacteriophage KPP10 for treating Pseudomonas aeruginosa-induced pneumonia in mouse models. Results showed that phage treatment significantly improved survival rate, reduced bacterial count and inflammation, suggesting the potential of phage therapy for P. aeruginosa lung infections.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Huan Peng, Daniele Rossetto, Sheref S. Mansy, Maria C. Jordan, Kenneth P. Roos, Irene A. Chen
Summary: Infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria are difficult to treat, but a study found that engineered phage-nanomaterial conjugates can effectively treat infected wounds caused by Gram-negative pathogens in mice. The treatment rapidly reduced bacterial load and promoted wound healing, outperforming standard-of-care antibiotics. The phage-nanomaterial treatment also worked against a strain resistant to last-line antibiotics, with no detectable toxicity or systemic effects.
Article
Microbiology
Sophie Camens, Sha Liu, Karen Hon, George Spyro Bouras, Alkis James Psaltis, Peter-John Wormald, Sarah Vreugde
Summary: The isolated phage PA4 showed lytic ability against clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa, indicating its potential in clinical applications.
Article
Microbiology
Xiao Wang, Jingjing Tang, Wen Dang, Zhen Xie, Fuhua Zhang, Xinwei Hao, Sihuai Sun, Xuan Liu, Yi Luo, Mengyuan Li, Yanchao Gu, Yao Wang, Qiwei Chen, Xihui Shen, Lei Xu
Summary: In this study, three bacteriophages capable of infecting Pseudomonas aeruginosa were isolated and their biological characteristics were investigated. The experiment showed that these phages were stable in different environments and could reduce P. aeruginosa biofilms, suggesting their potential as candidates for treating P. aeruginosa infections.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Rachel Yoon Kyung Chang, Yuko Okamoto, Sandra Morales, Elizabeth Kutter, Hak-Kim Chan
Summary: This study aimed to formulate biologically stable phage hydrogels for controlled release of infective phages. The release profiles of phages were evaluated in different hydrogel formulations, showing promising results with certain combinations. The study demonstrated that certain hydrogels can maintain the stability of phages during storage.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Rachel Yoon Kyung Chang, Michael Y. T. Chow, Yuncheng Wang, Chengxi Liu, Qixuan Hong, Sandra Morales, Andrew J. McLachlan, Elizabeth Kutter, Jian Li, Hak-Kim Chan
Summary: This study investigated the dose-response effect of Pseudomonas-targeting phage PEV31 in a mouse lung infection model. The results showed that phage treatment significantly reduced pulmonary bacterial load, regardless of the delivered phage dose. The study provides important insights for the dose selection of inhaled phage therapy for P. aeruginosa respiratory infections in humans.
CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTION
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Viviane de Cassia Oliveira, Stephan Steixner, Cassio do Nascimento, Valeria Oliveira Pagnano, Claudia Helena Silva-Lovato, Helena de Freitas Oliveira Paranhos, Doris Wilflingseder, Debora Coraca-Huber, Evandro Watanabe
Summary: The study evaluated the impact of bacteriophage infection on biofilm formation and virulence factor expression in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. It found that bacteriophages significantly altered early biofilm growth of P. aeruginosa and caused changes in the expression of genes related to virulence factors. Further investigation into the pathways and molecules involved in phage infection is necessary to better understand the response activation by P. aeruginosa.
MICROBIAL PATHOGENESIS
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Rachel Yoon Kyung Chang, Yuko Okamoto, Sandra Morales, Elizabeth Kutter, Hak -Kim Chan
Summary: This study formulated liquid phage for topical delivery using a metered-dose spray and evaluated its properties and efficacy. The results showed that the optimized phage-polymer spray formulations were easily sprayable, with minimal dripping and fast drying time. The phages released rapidly from the formulation and effectively inhibited the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Both phages remained stable during storage for eight weeks. This study suggests that the spray formulations containing non-ionic polymers in ethanol/water could be a promising therapeutic system for delivering phages.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS AND BIOPHARMACEUTICS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Nitasha D. Menon, Megha S. Kumar, T. G. Satheesh Babu, Sucharita Bose, Gayathri Vijayakumar, Manasi Baswe, Meghna Chatterjee, Jovita Rowena D'Silva, Kavya Shetty, Jayalekshmi Haripriyan, Anil Kumar, Samitha Nair, Priyanka Somanath, Bipin G. Nair, Victor Nizet, Geetha B. Kumar
Summary: The novel P. aeruginosa N4-like lytic bacteriophage AM.P2 efficiently lyses the model strain PAO1 and shows synergy with the antibiotic ciprofloxacin. It successfully inhibited the growth of almost 30% of multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa clinical isolates from South India, making it a potential candidate for phage cocktails in water decontamination and clinical bacteriophage therapy.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Rima Fanaei Pirlar, Jeroen Wagemans, Fabian Kunisch, Rob Lavigne, Andrej Trampuz, Mercedes Gonzalez Moreno
Summary: CUB19 is a novel bacteriophage that specifically targets the bacterial species Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. It exhibits stability over a wide range of temperatures and pH values and has potent antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity. The study also suggests that CUB19 is effective when co-administered with antibiotics, making it a promising targeted therapeutic agent against biofilm-associated Stenotrophomonas infections.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Thomas S. Postler, Luisa Rubino, Evelien M. Adriaenssens, Bas E. Dutilh, Balazs Harrach, Sandra Junglen, Andrew M. Kropinski, Mart Krupovic, Jiro Wada, Anya Crane, Jens H. Kuhn, Arcady Mushegian, Janis Rumnieks, Sead Sabanadzovic, Peter Simmonds, Arvind Varsani, F. Murilo Zerbini, Julie Callanan, Lorraine A. Draper, Colin Hill, Stephen R. Stockdale
Summary: The International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses has adopted a binomial naming format for virus species, which is comparable with other biological taxonomies. Latinization of these names is optional, but it provides the advantage of cultural neutrality and compatibility with other taxonomies.
JOURNAL OF GENERAL VIROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Hugo Oliveira, Silvio Santos, Diana P. Pires, Dimitri Boeckaerts, Graca Pinto, Rita Domingues, Jennifer Otero, Yves Briers, Rob Lavigne, Mathias Schmelcher, Andreas Doetsch, Joana Azeredo
Summary: In this study, a newly isolated myovirus CkP1 was found to infect Citrobacter koseri, causing urinary tract infections. The phage showed a broad host range and specifically bound to C. koseri cells through the tail fiber protein. It demonstrated high stability and potential for controlling drug-resistant C. koseri infections.
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lammens Eveline-Marie, Nathalie Feyaerts, Alison Kerremans, Maarten Boon, Rob Lavigne
Summary: In this study, four non-toxic RNA polymerases from Pseudomonas phages were identified and characterized for improving gene expression systems in non-model bacterial hosts. The researchers confirmed the broad activity range and orthogonality of these RNA polymerases through screening and characterization. Furthermore, they improved the stringency of the RNA polymerase expression systems by introducing and optimizing phage lysozymes.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ana C. Brandao, Leena Putzeys, Diana P. Pires, Marleen Voet, Jan Paeshuyse, Joana Azeredo, Rob Lavigne
Summary: Phage therapy shows promise as an effective treatment against multidrug-resistant bacterial infections, such as those caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. However, our understanding of phage-bacteria interaction in a human environment remains limited. In this study, we analyzed the transcriptome of phage-infected P. aeruginosa adhered to human epithelium and observed that phage genome transcription remained unaffected by bacterial growth. Phage utilized a core strategy of predation by upregulating prophage-associated genes, shutting down bacterial surface receptors, and inhibiting motility. We also identified specific responses under lung-simulating conditions, including the expression of genes related to various biological processes. These findings highlight the importance of studying phage-bacteria interplay in complex settings that mimic in vivo conditions and demonstrate the versatility of phage in invading bacterial cells.
Article
Virology
Nata Bakuradze, Maia Merabishvili, Ia Kusradze, Pieter-Jan Ceyssens, Jolien Onsea, Willem-Jan Metsemakers, Nino Grdzelishvili, Guliko Natroshvili, Tamar Tatrishvili, Davit Lazvliashvili, Nunu Mitskevich, Jean-Paul Pirnay, Nina Chanishvili
Summary: Bacteroides fragilis is a commensal gut bacterium associated with blood and tissue infections. Cases of refractory infections caused by strains resistant to common antibiotics for B. fragilis have been reported more frequently. Bacteriophages have been found to be a successful alternative to antibiotic therapy for multidrug-resistant bacterial infections.
Article
Virology
Agnieszka Latka, Abram Aertsen, Dimitri Boeckaerts, Bob Blasdel, Pieter-Jan Ceyssens, Abel Garcia-Pino, Annika Gillis, Rob Lavigne, Gipsi Lima-Mendez, Jelle Matthijnssens, Jolien Onsea, Eveline Peeters, Jean-Paul Pirnay, Damien Thiry, Dieter Vandenheuvel, Els Van Mechelen, Jolien Venneman, Gilbert Verbeken, Jeroen Wagemans, Yves Briers
Summary: The Belgian Society for Viruses of Microbes (BSVoM) was established on June 9, 2022 to promote collaboration among microbial virus researchers in Belgium. Comprising sixteen founders from academia, industry, and government, the society held its inaugural symposium on September 23, 2022 with three thematic sessions, keynote speeches, talks, and poster presentations.
Article
Microbiology
Marianne Nicolas, Angelina Trotereau, Antoine Culot, Arshnee Moodley, Robert Atterbury, Jeroen Wagemans, Rob Lavigne, Philippe Velge, Catherine Schouler
Summary: Colibacillosis, the most common bacterial disease affecting poultry, is primarily treated with antibiotics. However, the rise of multidrug-resistant avian-pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) necessitates the exploration of alternative treatments, such as phage therapy. This study isolates and characterizes 19 genetically diverse coliphages, and demonstrates their efficacy in controlling APEC infections in ovo.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Laure Verstraete, Juliana Aizawa, Matthias Govaerts, Linda De Vooght, Rob Lavigne, Jan Michiels, Bram van den Bergh, Paul Cos
Summary: The importance of targeting persister cells in antibiotic therapies is increasingly evident as they contribute to relapsing infections and the development of antibiotic resistance. This study focused on persistence in the clinically relevant pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is associated with chronic lung infections in cystic fibrosis patients. The researchers optimized a mouse model to simulate these lung infections and found that the survival levels of P. aeruginosa in the model correlated with survival levels measured in traditional persistence assays. These findings validate current techniques for studying persistence and provide opportunities to explore new persistence mechanisms and antipersister strategies in vivo.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Niels Vander Elst, Joni Bert, Herman Favoreel, Rob Lavigne, Evelyne Meyer, Yves Briers
Summary: Engineered endolysins have shown potential as add-on treatments for bovine streptococcal mastitis, with high bacteriolytic activity against antibiotic-resistant strains and the ability to eradicate biofilms and exhibit intracellular activity.
MICROBIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Jessica Duarte da Silva, Lene Bens, Adriele J. do Carmo Santos, Rob Lavigne, Jose Soares, Luis D. R. Melo, Marta Vallino, Roberto Sousa Dias, Zuzanna Drulis-Kawa, Sergio Oliveira de Paula, Jeroen Wagemans
Summary: Proteus mirabilis is a significant pathogen causing catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs). Two phages, BigMira and MidiMira, were studied and found to have similarities with four missense mutations impacting their depolymerase activity. Analysis of clinical P. mirabilis strains revealed differences in antibiotic resistance profiles and lipopolysaccharide locus, explaining phages' host range. The presence of antimicrobial resistance genes poses challenges for treating infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria.
Article
Microbiology
Eveline-Marie Lammens, Daniel Christophe Volke, Kaat Schroven, Marleen Voet, Alison Kerremans, Rob Lavigne, Hanne Hendrix
Summary: The development of CRISPR-Cas-based engineering technologies has revolutionized the microbial biotechnology field. The alternative Class I Type I-C CRISPR-Cas3 system has been utilized as a highly efficient genome editing tool for Pseudomonas hosts.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Virology
Pilar Garcia, Rafael Tabla, Hany Anany, Roberto Bastias, Lone Brondsted, Susana Casado, Pablo Cifuentes, John Deaton, Thomas G. Denes, Mohammad Aminul Islam, Rob Lavigne, Andrea I. Moreno-Switt, Natsuko Nakayama, Cristina Munoz Madero, Alexander Sulakvelidze, Antonet M. Svircev, Jeroen Wagemans, Elena G. Biosca, Dacil Rivera
Summary: This meeting discussed the suitability of using bacteriophages as alternative antimicrobials in the agrifood sector. It brought together researchers, industry delegates, and policymakers to debate the advantages, potential shortcomings, and regulatory aspects of phage application strategies.
Article
Microbiology
Kaat Schroven, Leena Putzeys, Alison Kerremans, Pieter-Jan Ceyssens, Marta Vallino, Jan Paeshuyse, Farhana Haque, Ahmed Yusuf, Matthias D. Koch, Rob Lavigne
Summary: This study elucidates the molecular mechanism of the phage-encoded protein PIT4, which interacts with multiple histidine kinases to regulate key virulence factors in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This finding highlights the potential of phage-derived proteins as targets for anti-virulence compounds.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Saartje Uyttebroek, Laura Bessems, Willem-Jan Metsemakers, Yves Debaveye, Laura Van Gerven, Lieven Dupont, Melissa Depypere, Jeroen Wagemans, Rob Lavigne, Maya Merabishvili, Jean-Paul Pirnay, David Devolder, Isabel Spriet, Jolien Onsea
Summary: This study investigated the stability of bacteriophage preparations used in the treatment of various infections. The results showed that the titer of bacteriophages decreased after storage, indicating the importance of maintaining therapeutic concentrations. The study also found that storing bacteriophage solutions in polypropylene syringes helped maintain stability. Nasal irrigation or infusion through a catheter did not affect the titer of bacteriophages.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Virology
Naiqing Xu, Xinen Tang, Xin Wang, Miao Cai, Xiaowen Liu, Xiaolong Lu, Shunlin Hu, Min Gu, Jiao Hu, Ruyi Gao, Kaituo Liu, Yu Chen, Xiufan Liu, Xiaoquan Wang
Summary: This study found that the H9N2 subtype avian influenza virus has a high airborne transmissibility, while the H7N9 virus does not. The Hemagglutinin protein of the H9N2 virus was found to play a key role in replication, stability, and airborne transmission.
Article
Virology
Samar S. Ewies, Sabry M. Tamam, Ahmed S. Abdel-Moneim, Sherin R. Rouby
Summary: Contagious ecthyma (CE) is a highly contagious viral disease of sheep and goats worldwide. The study provided a clinical description of CE and screened for genetic variation in the B2L gene. Infected sheep exhibited anorexia and oral lesions, while inoculated chicken embryos showed pock lesions. The B2L gene was successfully amplified and found to be highly conserved.
Article
Virology
Yigal Farnoushi, Dan Heller, Avishai Lublin
Summary: In recent years, new variants of avian reovirus (ARV) have caused a variety of symptoms in chickens worldwide, including viral arthritis/tenosynovitis. This study analyzed emerging ARV variants in Israel and found significant genetic diversity. Most ARV isolates in Israel belonged to genotypic cluster 5 (GC5). The study suggests that Israel has not experienced the emergence of new ARV variants since the introduction of the live vaccine (ISR-7585), but ongoing monitoring is needed due to the continuous emergence of ARV variants.
Article
Virology
Shigeru Tajima, Michiyo Kataoka, Yuki Takamatsu, Hideki Ebihara, Chang-Kweng Lim
Summary: Yokose virus (YOKV), a bat-associated flavivirus, was found to replicate at a slower rate in mosquito cells compared to other mosquito-borne flaviviruses. Specific nucleotide mutations in the virus were identified to enhance its proliferation ability in mosquito cells.
Article
Virology
Alejandra Borjabad, Baojun Dong, Wei Chao, David J. Volsky, Mary Jane Potash
Summary: This study investigated HIV brain disease using a mouse model, and found that poly I:C can reverse associated cognitive impairment and reduce virus burden. The results also revealed transcriptional changes related to neuronal function and innate immune responses.
Article
Virology
Ching-Hung Lin, Feng-Cheng Hsieh, Meilin Wang, Chieh Hsu, Hsuan-Wei Hsu, Chun-Chun Yang, Cheng-Yao Yang, Hung-Yi Wu
Summary: This study demonstrates that the synthesis of coronavirus subgenomic mRNA is not solely determined by the sequence homology between the leader TRS and TRS-B, but also by the disassociation of the coronavirus polymerase from the viral genome. This finding provides a new insight into the transcription mechanism of coronaviruses.
Article
Virology
Nicholas S. Kron, Benjamin W. Neuman, Sathish Kumar, Patricia L. Blackwelder, Dayana Vidal, Delphina Z. Walker-Phelan, Patrick D. I. Gibbs, Lynne A. Fieber, Michael C. Schmale
Summary: Two recent studies documented the genome of a novel virus in marine animals, finding that the virus is widespread in apparently healthy animals but not highly expressed in neurons. The studies also identified viral replication factories and high levels of defective genomes in chronically infected animals.
Article
Virology
Andrew M. Ramey, Laura C. Scott, Christina A. Ahlstrom, Evan J. Buck, Alison R. Williams, Mia Kim Torchetti, David E. Stallknecht, Rebecca L. Poulson
Summary: We successfully detected and characterized highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses in hunter-harvested wild waterfowl samples from western Alaska. Genomic analysis revealed three independent viral introductions into Alaska. Our findings demonstrate the utility and potential limitations of using molecular processing approaches directly on original swab samples for viral research and monitoring.
Article
Virology
Ting Gong, Dongdong Wu, Yongzhi Feng, Xing Liu, Qi Gao, Xiaoyu Zheng, Zebu Song, Heng Wang, Guihong Zhang, Lang Gong
Summary: This study discovered that quercetin can inhibit PEDV replication both in vivo and in vitro, and alleviate the clinical symptoms and intestinal injury caused by the virus. This provides a new direction for the development of PED antiviral drugs.
Article
Virology
Min Zhu, Hao Zeng, Jianqiao He, Yaohui Zhu, Pingping Wang, Jianing Guo, Jinfan Guo, Huabo Zhou, Yifeng Qin, Kang Ouyang, Zuzhang Wei, Weijian Huang, Ying Chen
Summary: The reassortment between avian H9N2 and Eurasian avian-like (EA) H1N1 viruses may have potentially changed from avian-to-mammals adaptation. This study found that the introduction of EA H1N1 internal genes into H9N2 virus restored the replication capability and resulted in extreme virulence in some cases. This raises new concerns for public health due to the possible coexistence of H9N2 and EA H1N1 viruses in dogs.
