Application of Campylobacter jejuni Phages: Challenges and Perspectives

Abstract

Bacteriophages (phages) are the most abundant and diverse biological entities in the biosphere. Due to the rise of multi-drug resistant bacterial strains during the past decade, phages are currently experiencing a renewed interest. Bacteriophages and their derivatives are being actively researched for their potential in the medical and biotechnology fields. Phage applications targeting pathogenic food-borne bacteria are currently being utilized for decontamination and therapy of live farm animals and as a biocontrol measure at the post-harvest level. For this indication, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved several phage products targeting Listeria sp., Salmonella sp. and Escherichia coli. Phage-based applications against Campylobacter jejuni could potentially be used in ways similar to those against Salmonella sp. and Listeria sp.; however, only very few Campylobacter phage products have been approved anywhere to date. The research on Campylobacter phages conducted thus far indicates that highly diverse subpopulations of C. jejuni as well as phage isolation and enrichment procedures influence the specificity and efficacy of Campylobacter phages. This review paper emphasizes conclusions from previous findings instrumental in facilitating isolation of Campylobacter phages and improving specificity and efficacy of the isolates.

Campylobacter phages use hypermutable polyG tracts to create phenotypic diversity and evade bacterial resistance

“…Such population dynamics could consequently affect the use of Fletchervirus phages in broiler farms, which has been proposed as a promising intervention strategy to reduce Campylobacter loads before slaughter (Jane z and Loc-Carrillo, 2013). So far, studies of phage therapy that targets Campylobacter in chickens and at farm level have demonstrated varying efficiencies and phage-resistance development (Carvalho et al, 2010;Chinivasagam et al, 2020;Fischer et al, 2013;Ushanov et al, 2020). However, most of the phages used in these studies are not well characterized with respect to their receptors, and they have also not been sequenced.…”

Distribution of CRISPR Types in Fluoroquinolone-Resistant Campylobacter jejuni Isolates

“…Therapeutic use of phages is an approach employed in control of many foodborne bacteria, including Campylobacter, in the food production chain [ 32 , 33 , 34 ]. Phage therapy is also considered an alternative treatment method in the fight against antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains [ 35 ].…”

Molecular Mechanisms and Epidemiology of Fosfomycin Resistance in Staphylococcus aureus Isolated From Patients at a Teaching Hospital in China

“…The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of fosfomycin for each clinical strain was determined using the agar dilution method, wherein the media were supplemented with glucose-6-phosphate (25 mg/L), according to the recommendations of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute [CLSI], 2018 ( Ushanov et al, 2020 ). The data were interpreted according to the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing criteria (available at http://www.eucast.org/clinical_breakpoints/ ) (susceptible, ≤32 mg/L; resistant, ≥64 mg/L), and the fosfomycin-resistant isolates were selected for further investigation.…”