Therapeutic potential of novel phages with antibiotic combinations against ESBL-producing and carbapenem-resistant Escherichia Coli
Objectives: The emergence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing E. coli and carbapenem-resistant E. coli (CREC) is a significant global health challenge. This study focuses on isolating and characterizing two novel phages, EC.W1–9 and EC.W15–4, and investigating their efficacy with antib...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-06-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213716525000773 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Summary: | Objectives: The emergence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing E. coli and carbapenem-resistant E. coli (CREC) is a significant global health challenge. This study focuses on isolating and characterizing two novel phages, EC.W1–9 and EC.W15–4, and investigating their efficacy with antibiotics against these resistant E. coli. Methods: In vivo experiments were conducted using BALB/c mice, and E.coli isolates were collected, cultured, and evaluated for antibiotic susceptibility. Phages were isolated from hospital sewage and prepared to infect the E. coli. Results: The isolated phages, EC.W1–9 and EC.W15–4, belonged to the Podoviridae and Straboviridae families, and lack integrase or toxin-coding genes, indicating safety for therapeutic use. The combination of these phages significently enhanced their lytic ability, lysing 61.7% of 60 E. coli isolates, compared to 41.6%–55% lysis by individual phages. Furthermore, the phage combination demonstrated 100% susceptibility against different E. coli sequence types, including ST73, ST648, ST2311, ST405, ST7962, ST131, ST13003, and ST167. Additionally, synergy between antibiotics and phage combinations improved susceptibility rates to 73.3% for ESBL producers and 54% for CREC. The combined treatment of isolated phages and antibiotics significantly increased survival rates in BALB/c mice exposed to resistant STs of E.coli, including ST131, ST648, and ST410. Survival rates against ST131 increased by approximately 75% and 50% compared to treatment individual phages. Combined treatment with two phages and antibiotics resulted in 75–100% survival against E. coli ST410 and 100% survival against ST648 Conclusions: This study highlights the therapeutic importance of phage and phage-antibiotic combinations in combating ESBL-producing E. coli and CREC isolates. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 2213-7165 |