Molecular characterization and safety properties of multi drug-resistant Escherichia coli O157:H7 bacteriophages

Abstract The increase in multi drug resistance (MDR) amongst food-borne pathogens such as Escherichia coli O157:H7, coupled with the upsurge of food-borne infections caused by these pathogens is a major public health concern. Lytic phages have been employed as an alternative to antibiotics for use a...

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Main Authors: Bukola Opeyemi Oluwarinde, Daniel Jesuwenu Ajose, Tesleem Olatunde Abolarinwa, Peter Kotsoana Montso, Henry Akum Njom, Collins Njie Ateba
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Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-12-01
Series:BMC Microbiology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-024-03691-w
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author Bukola Opeyemi Oluwarinde
Daniel Jesuwenu Ajose
Tesleem Olatunde Abolarinwa
Peter Kotsoana Montso
Henry Akum Njom
Collins Njie Ateba
author_facet Bukola Opeyemi Oluwarinde
Daniel Jesuwenu Ajose
Tesleem Olatunde Abolarinwa
Peter Kotsoana Montso
Henry Akum Njom
Collins Njie Ateba
author_sort Bukola Opeyemi Oluwarinde
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The increase in multi drug resistance (MDR) amongst food-borne pathogens such as Escherichia coli O157:H7, coupled with the upsurge of food-borne infections caused by these pathogens is a major public health concern. Lytic phages have been employed as an alternative to antibiotics for use against food-borne pathogens. However, for effective application, phages should be selectively toxic. Therefore, the objective of this study was to characterise lytic E. coli O157:H7 phages isolated from wastewater as possible biocontrol agents and access their genomes for the absence of genes that denotes virulence, resistance, toxins, and lysogeny using whole genome sequencing. E. coli O157:H7 bacteriophages showed clear plaques ranging in size from 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm. Spot test and Efficiency of plating (EOP) analysis demonstrated that isolated phages could infect various environmental E. coli strains. Four phages; vB_EcoM_EP32a, vB_EcoP_EP32b, vB_EcoM_EP57, and vB_EcoM_EP69 demonstrated broad lytic spectra against E. coli O157:H7 strains. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) showed that all phages have tails and were classified as Caudoviricetes. Growth parameters showed an average latent period of 15 ± 3.8 min, with a maximum burst size of 392 PFU/cell. The phages were stable at three distinct temperatures (4 °C, 28 °C, and 37 °C) and at pH values of 3.5, 5.0, 7.0, 9.0, and 11.0. Based on their morphological distinctiveness, three phages were included in the Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) analysis. WGS results revealed that E. coli O157:H7 phages (vB_EcoM_EP32a, vB_EcoP_EP32b, and vB_EcoM_EP57) were composed of linear double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) with genome sizes 163,906, 156,698, and 130,723 bp and GC contents of 37.61, 37, and 39% respectively. Phages vB_EcoM_EP32a and vB_EcoP_EP32b genomes were classified under the class Caudoviricetes, Straboviridae family, and the new genus “Phapecoctavirus”, while vB_EcoM_EP57 was classified under the class Caudoviricetes, Autographiviridae family. Genome analysis revealed no lysogenic (integrase), virulence, or antimicrobial resistance sequences in all three Escherichia phage genomes. The overall results provided evidence that lytic E. coli O157:H7 bacteriophages in this study, are relatively stable, can infect diverse E. coli strains, and does not contain genes responsible for virulence, resistance, toxins, and lysogeny. Thus, they can be considered as biocontrol candidates against MDR pathogenic E. coli O157:H7 strains in the food industry.
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spelling doaj-art-de8a55ef9a204ce4b55d0d8f6d13c56e2024-12-22T12:18:37ZengBMCBMC Microbiology1471-21802024-12-0124112110.1186/s12866-024-03691-wMolecular characterization and safety properties of multi drug-resistant Escherichia coli O157:H7 bacteriophagesBukola Opeyemi Oluwarinde0Daniel Jesuwenu Ajose1Tesleem Olatunde Abolarinwa2Peter Kotsoana Montso3Henry Akum Njom4Collins Njie Ateba5Antimicrobial Resistance and Phage Biocontrol Research Group (AREPHABREG), Department of Microbiology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North‒West UniversityAntimicrobial Resistance and Phage Biocontrol Research Group (AREPHABREG), Department of Microbiology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North‒West UniversityAntimicrobial Resistance and Phage Biocontrol Research Group (AREPHABREG), Department of Microbiology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North‒West UniversityAntimicrobial Resistance and Phage Biocontrol Research Group (AREPHABREG), Department of Microbiology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North‒West UniversityAgricultural Research CouncilAntimicrobial Resistance and Phage Biocontrol Research Group (AREPHABREG), Department of Microbiology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North‒West UniversityAbstract The increase in multi drug resistance (MDR) amongst food-borne pathogens such as Escherichia coli O157:H7, coupled with the upsurge of food-borne infections caused by these pathogens is a major public health concern. Lytic phages have been employed as an alternative to antibiotics for use against food-borne pathogens. However, for effective application, phages should be selectively toxic. Therefore, the objective of this study was to characterise lytic E. coli O157:H7 phages isolated from wastewater as possible biocontrol agents and access their genomes for the absence of genes that denotes virulence, resistance, toxins, and lysogeny using whole genome sequencing. E. coli O157:H7 bacteriophages showed clear plaques ranging in size from 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm. Spot test and Efficiency of plating (EOP) analysis demonstrated that isolated phages could infect various environmental E. coli strains. Four phages; vB_EcoM_EP32a, vB_EcoP_EP32b, vB_EcoM_EP57, and vB_EcoM_EP69 demonstrated broad lytic spectra against E. coli O157:H7 strains. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) showed that all phages have tails and were classified as Caudoviricetes. Growth parameters showed an average latent period of 15 ± 3.8 min, with a maximum burst size of 392 PFU/cell. The phages were stable at three distinct temperatures (4 °C, 28 °C, and 37 °C) and at pH values of 3.5, 5.0, 7.0, 9.0, and 11.0. Based on their morphological distinctiveness, three phages were included in the Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) analysis. WGS results revealed that E. coli O157:H7 phages (vB_EcoM_EP32a, vB_EcoP_EP32b, and vB_EcoM_EP57) were composed of linear double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) with genome sizes 163,906, 156,698, and 130,723 bp and GC contents of 37.61, 37, and 39% respectively. Phages vB_EcoM_EP32a and vB_EcoP_EP32b genomes were classified under the class Caudoviricetes, Straboviridae family, and the new genus “Phapecoctavirus”, while vB_EcoM_EP57 was classified under the class Caudoviricetes, Autographiviridae family. Genome analysis revealed no lysogenic (integrase), virulence, or antimicrobial resistance sequences in all three Escherichia phage genomes. The overall results provided evidence that lytic E. coli O157:H7 bacteriophages in this study, are relatively stable, can infect diverse E. coli strains, and does not contain genes responsible for virulence, resistance, toxins, and lysogeny. Thus, they can be considered as biocontrol candidates against MDR pathogenic E. coli O157:H7 strains in the food industry.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-024-03691-wAntibiotic resistanceBiocontrolE. coli O157:H7Food pathogenPhage genomeWhole genome sequencing
spellingShingle Bukola Opeyemi Oluwarinde
Daniel Jesuwenu Ajose
Tesleem Olatunde Abolarinwa
Peter Kotsoana Montso
Henry Akum Njom
Collins Njie Ateba
Molecular characterization and safety properties of multi drug-resistant Escherichia coli O157:H7 bacteriophages
BMC Microbiology
Antibiotic resistance
Biocontrol
E. coli O157:H7
Food pathogen
Phage genome
Whole genome sequencing
title Molecular characterization and safety properties of multi drug-resistant Escherichia coli O157:H7 bacteriophages
title_full Molecular characterization and safety properties of multi drug-resistant Escherichia coli O157:H7 bacteriophages
title_fullStr Molecular characterization and safety properties of multi drug-resistant Escherichia coli O157:H7 bacteriophages
title_full_unstemmed Molecular characterization and safety properties of multi drug-resistant Escherichia coli O157:H7 bacteriophages
title_short Molecular characterization and safety properties of multi drug-resistant Escherichia coli O157:H7 bacteriophages
title_sort molecular characterization and safety properties of multi drug resistant escherichia coli o157 h7 bacteriophages
topic Antibiotic resistance
Biocontrol
E. coli O157:H7
Food pathogen
Phage genome
Whole genome sequencing
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-024-03691-w
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