ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF NOVEL BACTERIOPHAGES PSA 12 AND PSA 60 WITH LYTIC ACTIVITY AGAINST MULTIDRUG-RESISTANT PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17721/1728.2748.2025.103.5-9
Keywords:
Pseudomonas aeruginosa, bacteriophages, phage therapy, antibiotic resistance, MDRAbstract
Background. The current study focused on the isolation and characterization of two bacteriophages, Psa 12 and Psa 60, which exhibited lytic activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. P. aeruginosa is a significant threat due to its widespread distribution, growing antimicrobial resistance, and biofilm formation. The WHO highlights its urgency for new antibiotics. In Ukraine, particularly, war-related injuries are frequently compicated by infections caused by multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa. Phage therefore emerges as a promising research direction and a potential alternative for managing MDR infections.
Methods. Bacteriophages were isolated using the double-layer agar method, and their host range was determined by spot testing against clinical strains. Morphological features were assessed via transmission electron microscopy.
Results. Phages Psa 12 and Psa 60 were isolated from wastewater samples and demonstrated strong lytic activity, with titers of 12×107 PFU/mL and 5×106 PFU/mL, respectively. Out of 30 clinical P. aeruginosa strains, phage isolate Psa 12 showed effectiveness against 46 %, while Psa 60 was effective against 53 %. TEM analysis revealed that both phages possess an icosahedral capsid and a contractile tail, consistent with the Caudoviricetes class. Psa 12 had a head diameter of 87±2 nm and a tail length of 137±5 nm. Psa 60 exhibited a head diameter of 100 ± 3 nm and a tail length of 121 ± 3 nm.
Сonclusions. The strong lytic activity, broad host range among clinical strains, and structural features characteristic of the Caudoviricetes class highlight the therapeutic potential of phages Psa 12 and Psa 60 against multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa.
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