IADR Abstract Archives
Bacteriophages: Our Tiny Soldiers against Bacterial Resistance.
Objectives: Bacterial resistance is one of the main reasons for the deteriorating effectiveness of antibiotics. Phage therapy that had been shelved up for a very long time has now become an alternative cure. Now since the host bacteria, co-exist with phages in nature, they mutate to form phage resistant strains through various antiviral mechanisms to survive the continuous arms race. Phages however co-evolve with their hosts and acquire counter ways against these bacterial defences. Thus, phages hold various advantages over antibiotics.
The ultimate objective of this research is to develop methods to overcome phage resistance along with antibiotic resistance. This includes study of bacterial resistance mechanism and advancement of new treatments against the resistant bacteria by isolation of new phages, use of phage cocktails.
Methods: This work is targeted towards Enterococcus faecalis, a Gram-positive, facultative anaerobe that is associated with failed endodontic cases. The methodology involves isolation of phages against this pathogen and their application to overcome bacterial resistance both antibiotic and phage along with understanding the resistance mechanism. Further, testing of these phages in ex vivo models before applying them in animal models is also an important part of the procedure.
Results: We already isolated two phages EFDG1 and EFLK1 against VRE E. faecalis. EFDG1 was isolated against the parent strain EFV583 and EFLK1 was isolated against EFDG1r, EFDG1 phage resistant mutant strain. The phages were either used as individual phages or as cocktails to combat both EFV583 and EFDG1r planktonic bacteria as well as their biofilms to analyse their effectivity. Their efficacy was also tested in ex vivo root canal model and ex vivo clot model.
Conclusions: Herein we aim to show the ease of dealing with antibiotic as well as phage resistance in bacteria, using phages.
The ultimate objective of this research is to develop methods to overcome phage resistance along with antibiotic resistance. This includes study of bacterial resistance mechanism and advancement of new treatments against the resistant bacteria by isolation of new phages, use of phage cocktails.
Methods: This work is targeted towards Enterococcus faecalis, a Gram-positive, facultative anaerobe that is associated with failed endodontic cases. The methodology involves isolation of phages against this pathogen and their application to overcome bacterial resistance both antibiotic and phage along with understanding the resistance mechanism. Further, testing of these phages in ex vivo models before applying them in animal models is also an important part of the procedure.
Results: We already isolated two phages EFDG1 and EFLK1 against VRE E. faecalis. EFDG1 was isolated against the parent strain EFV583 and EFLK1 was isolated against EFDG1r, EFDG1 phage resistant mutant strain. The phages were either used as individual phages or as cocktails to combat both EFV583 and EFDG1r planktonic bacteria as well as their biofilms to analyse their effectivity. Their efficacy was also tested in ex vivo root canal model and ex vivo clot model.
Conclusions: Herein we aim to show the ease of dealing with antibiotic as well as phage resistance in bacteria, using phages.