Genomic and Functional Characterization of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci-Specific Bacteriophages in the <i>Galleria mellonella</i> Wax Moth Larvae Model
Lynn El Haddad,
Georgios Angelidakis,
Justin R. Clark,
Jesus F. Mendoza,
Austen L. Terwilliger,
Christopher P. Chaftari,
Mark Duna,
Serena T. Yusuf,
Cynthia P. Harb,
Mark Stibich,
Anthony Maresso,
Roy F. Chemaly
Affiliations
Lynn El Haddad
Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Georgios Angelidakis
Department of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control and Employee Health, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
Justin R. Clark
Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
Jesus F. Mendoza
Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Austen L. Terwilliger
Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
Christopher P. Chaftari
Department of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control and Employee Health, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
Mark Duna
Department of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control and Employee Health, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
Serena T. Yusuf
Department of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control and Employee Health, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
Cynthia P. Harb
Department of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control and Employee Health, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
Mark Stibich
Department of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control and Employee Health, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
Anthony Maresso
Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
Roy F. Chemaly
Department of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control and Employee Health, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
Phages are naturally occurring viruses that selectively kill bacterial species without disturbing the individual’s normal flora, averting the collateral damage of antimicrobial usage. The safety and the effectiveness of phages have been mainly confirmed in the food industry as well as in animal models. In this study, we report on the successful isolation of phages specific to Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci, including Enterococcus faecium (VREfm) and Enterococcus faecalis from sewage samples, and demonstrate their efficacy and safety for VREfm infection in the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella model. No virulence-associated genes, antibiotic resistance genes or integrases were detected in the phages’ genomes, rendering them safe to be used in an in vivo model. Phages may be considered as potential agents for therapy for bacterial infections secondary to multidrug-resistant organisms such as VREfm.
