Characterization of JG024, a pseudomonas aeruginosa PB1-like broad host range phage under simulated infection conditions.
BACKGROUND
Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes lung infections in patients suffering from the genetic disorder Cystic Fibrosis (CF). Once a chronic lung infection is established, P. aeruginosa cannot be eradicated by antibiotic treatment. Phage therapy is an alternative to treat these chronic P. aeruginosa infections. However, little is known about the factors which influence phage infection of P. aeruginosa under infection conditions and suitable broad host range phages.


RESULTS
We isolated and characterized a phage, named JG024, which infects a broad range of clinical and environmental P. aeruginosa strains. Sequencing of the phage genome revealed that the phage JG024 is highly related to the ubiquitous and conserved PB1-like phages. The receptor of phage JG024 was determined as lipopolysaccharide. We used an artificial sputum medium to study phage infection under conditions similar to a chronic lung infection. Alginate production was identified as a factor reducing phage infectivity.


CONCLUSIONS
Phage JG024 is a suitable broad host range phage which could be used in phage therapy. Phage infection experiments under simulated chronic lung infection conditions showed that alginate production reduces phage infection efficiency.
Institute of Microbiology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Spielmannstr, 7, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany.
Julia
J
Garbe
Andrea
A
Wesche
Boyke
B
Bunk
Marlon
M
Kazmierczak
Katherina
K
Selezska
Christine
C
Rohde
Johannes
J
Sikorski
Manfred
M
Rohde
Dieter
D
Jahn
Max
M
Schobert
D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D001691:Biological Therapy; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000150:complications; D016679:Genome, Viral; D058507:Host Specificity; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D008954:Models, Biological; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000502:physiology / Q000821:virology*; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology