Open AccessIsolation and Characterization of Lytic Bacteriophages Targeting Diverse Enterobacter spp. Clinical Isolates
Author(s) -
Amanda G. Finney,
Jalyne M. Perry,
Daniel R. Evans,
Kevin J. Westbrook,
Christi L. McElheny,
Alina Iovleva,
Yohei Doi,
Ryan K. Shields,
Daria Van Tyne
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
phage
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2641-6549
pISSN - 2641-6530
DOI - 10.1089/phage.2021.0011
Subject(s) - enterobacter , lytic cycle , enterobacter aerogenes , microbiology and biotechnology , myoviridae , biology , bacteriophage , phage therapy , ceftazidime , klebsiella , ceftazidime/avibactam , antibiotic resistance , antibiotics , virology , bacteria , escherichia coli , pseudomonas aeruginosa , virus , genetics , gene
Background: Enterobacter spp. are opportunistic pathogens that cause nosocomial infections. Bacteriophages could be used to treat antibiotic-resistant Enterobacter infections. Materials and Methods: We used 10 genetically diverse clinical Enterobacter spp. isolates to identify lytic bacteriophages in hospital and municipal wastewater. Comparative genomics was performed on host bacterial isolates and isolated phages. Activity of each phage against all 10 host isolates was determined. We also tested phage activity against paired isolates from two patients who developed ceftazidime-avibactam resistance. Results: Bacteria belonged to three Enterobacter species and Klebsiella aerogenes. We isolated 12 bacteriophages, most of which belonged to the Myoviridae and Autographiviridae families. Most phages were able to lyse multiple bacterial isolates, and many lysed isolates of different species. Ceftazidime-avibactam-resistant isolates were still phage susceptible, and one isolate showed increased susceptibility compared with the parent isolate. Conclusion: The phages we isolated expand the diversity of Enterobacter- targeting phages, and could be useful for treating antibiotic-resistant Enterobacter infections.