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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Journal of Health and Allied Sciences NU 2020; 10(03): 102-108
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1715773
Original Article

Isolation, Characterization, and Comparison of Efficiencies of Bacteriophages to Reduce Planktonic and Biofilm-Associated Staphylococcus aureus

Anoopkrishna Rai
1   Division of Infectious Diseases, Nitte University Centre for Science Education and Research, Nitte (Deemed to be University), Deralakatte, Mangaluru, India
,
Rajeshwari V. Vittal
1   Division of Infectious Diseases, Nitte University Centre for Science Education and Research, Nitte (Deemed to be University), Deralakatte, Mangaluru, India
,
Juliet R. Mohan Raj
1   Division of Infectious Diseases, Nitte University Centre for Science Education and Research, Nitte (Deemed to be University), Deralakatte, Mangaluru, India
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Abstract

Introduction In the present era, wherein occurrence of antimicrobial resistance compounded with biofilms in disease conditions has rendered present antibiotic therapy ineffective, the need for alternative strategies to treat bacterial infections has brought bacteriophages to the forefront. The antimicrobial activity of phages is often determined by a viable cell reduction assay which focuses only on planktonic forms. The physiology of an organism in biofilm differs from those that are planktonic; hence, there is a need to evaluate the activity of phages both on planktonic forms, as well as on biofilms, to select candidate therapeutic phages.

Materials and Methods Bacteriophages for Staphylococcus aureus were isolated from environmental samples and characterized based on growth kinetics and DNA fingerprint patterns. Activity of isolated phages on planktonic forms was determined by viable count reduction assay. Phage ability to prevent biofilm formation and ability to disperse formed biofilms were performed in 96-well microtiter plates and biofilm estimated by crystal violet assay.

Results Four bacteriophages designated, that is, P3, PD1, PE1, and PE2, were isolated and characterized. Planktonic cells of S. aureus were found to be sensitive to phages PD1, PE1, and PE2. Phages PD1 and PE2 were efficient in preventing biofilm formation and phages PD1, PE1, and P3 were efficient in dispersing formed biofilms.

Conclusion The ability of some phages to disperse biofilms effectively, while unable to show the same efficiency on planktonic cells, indicates that viable count reduction assay alone may not be a sufficient tool to imply bactericidal activity of bacteriophages, especially while trying to eradicate biofilms.

Keywords

bacteriophages - biofilm - Staphylococcus aureus

Supplementary Material



Publication History

Article published online:
13 August 2020

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