Characterization of new Myoviridae bacteriophage WZ1 against multi‐drug resistant (MDR) Shigella dysenteriae. (2nd January 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jamal, Muhsin; Chaudhry, Waqas Nasir; Hussain, Tahir; Das, Chythanya Rajanna; Andleeb, Saadia
• Is Part Of: Journal of basic microbiology. Volume 55:issue 4(2015:Apr.)
• Page Start: 420
• Page End: 431
• Publication Date: 2015-01-02
• Subjects: Microbiology -- Periodicals; 579
• DOI: 10.1002/jobm.201400688
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0233-111X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="jobm201400688-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <p> <italic>Shigella dysenteriae</italic> is a normal inhabitant of the human gastrointestinal tract, but sometimes it causes severe infection known as shigellosis (bacillary dysentery). Bacteriophages are considered very safe and effective agents for controlling bacterial infections and contaminations. In this study, we describe the isolation and characterization of bacteriophage WZ1, isolated from waste water which inhibits the growth of <italic>S. dysenteriae</italic>. Phage WZ1 showed maximum stability at 37 °C and was stable up to 65 °C but was totally inactive at 70 °C. The pH stability increased from low to high and was totally inactive at pH 3 while maximum stability was observed at optimal pH 7. Phage WZ1 adsorption rate to the host bacterium was significantly enhanced by the addition of CaCl<sub>2</sub>. It has a latent time and burst time of 24 min and about 430 virions/cell, respectively. Transmission electron microscopy of phage WZ1 revealed a head width of 10 ± 0.5 nm and length of 10 ± 0.2 nm with a contractile tail of 128 ± 25 nm long and 21 ± 0.5 nm wide and belongs to family <italic>Myoviridae</italic> of order <italic>Caudovirales</italic>. Twelve structural proteins ranging from 22 to 150 kDa were detected by Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE). The genome was found to be double stranded DNA with an approximate size of 38 kb. It has a very good reduction potential for <italic>S. dysenteriae</italic> by lowering abruptly the optical density of the planktonic <italic>S. dysenteriae</italic> culture. Phage WZ1 is a very promising candidate for phage therapy and other applications such as phage typing.</p> </sec> </abstract>