title: Application of phage therapy during bivalve depuration improves Escherichia coli decontamination.
abstract: The present study investigated the potential application of the bacteriophage (or phage) phT4A, ECA2 and the phage cocktail phT4A/ECA2 to decrease the concentration of Escherichia coli during the depuration of natural and artificially contaminated cockles. Depuration in static seawater at multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 1 with single phage suspensions of phT4A and ECA2 was the best condition, as it decreased by ∼2.0 log CFU/g the concentration of E. coli in artificially contaminated cockles after a 4 h of treatment. When naturally contaminated cockles were treated in static seawater with single phage suspensions and the phage cocktail, similar decreases in the concentration of E. coli (∼0.7 log CFU/g) were achieved. However, when employing the phage cocktail, a longer treatment time was required to obtain comparable results to those achieved when using single phage suspensions. When naturally contaminated cockles were depurated with phage phT4A in a recirculated seawater system (mimicking industrial depuration conditions), a 0.6 log CFU/g reduction of E. coli was achieved after a 2 h of treatment. When the depuration process was performed without phage addition, a 4 h treatment was necessary to obtain a similar decrease. By combining phage therapy and depuration procedures, a reduction in bivalves depuration period can be achieved for, thus decreasing the cost associated with this procedure and even enhance the quality and safety of depurated bivalves destined for human consumption.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Catarina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moreirinha
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Luís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Teles
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Rui J M
authors.initials: RJM
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Calado
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiología e Parasitología, CIBUS-Facultad de Biologia, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Campus Vida s/n., 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
authors.forename: Jesús L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Romalde
authors.affiliation: CIIMAR/CIMAR - Centro de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Rua dos Bragas, 289, 4050-123 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Maria L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal. Electronic address: aalmeida@ua.pt.
authors.forename: Adelaide
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Almeida
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D058491:Bacterial Load; D017122:Bacteriophage T4 / Q000502:physiology*; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000382:microbiology*; D003090:Coliphages / Q000502:physiology*; D003666:Decontamination / Q000379:methods*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000502:physiology*; D005516:Food Microbiology; D059022:Food Safety / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D000071059:Phage Therapy; D012758:Shellfish / Q000382:microbiology*
keywords: Cerastoderma edule; Cockles; Food safety; Phages