Newly Isolated Virulent Salmophages for Biocontrol of Multidrug-Resistant Salmonella in Ready-to-Eat Plant-Based Food

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences 2023-06, Vol.24 (12), p.10134
• Main Authors: Wójcicki, Michał, Świder, Olga, Średnicka, Paulina, Shymialevich, Dziyana, Ilczuk, Tomasz, Koperski, Łukasz, Cieślak, Hanna, Sokołowska, Barbara, Juszczuk-Kubiak, Edyta
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acidity; Antibiotics; Bacteria; Biological control; CRISPR; Drug resistance; FDA approval; Food contamination; Food contamination & poisoning; Foodborne pathogens; Fruit juices; Genes; Genomes; Multidrug resistance; Multidrug resistant organisms; Natural enemies; Pathogens; Phages; Physiology; Plant-based foods; Salmonella; Salmonellosis; Strains (organisms); Transmission electron microscopy; Ultraviolet radiation; Virulence; Whole genome sequencing
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms241210134

Due to irrational antibiotic stewardship, an increase in the incidence of multidrug resistance of bacteria has been observed recently. Therefore, the search for new therapeutic methods for pathogen infection treatment seems to be necessary. One of the possibilities is the utilization of bacteriophages (phages)-the natural enemies of bacteria. Thus, this study is aimed at the genomic and functional characterization of two newly isolated phages targeting MDR strains and their efficacy in salmonellosis biocontrol in raw carrot-apple juice. The phage vB_Sen-IAFB3829 ( phage strain KKP 3829) and phage vB_Sen-IAFB3830 ( phage strain KKP 3830) were isolated against . I (6,8:l,-:1,7) strain KKP 1762 and . Typhimurium strain KKP 3080 host strains, respectively. Based on the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) analyses, the viruses were identified as members of tailed bacteriophages from the class. Genome sequencing revealed that these phages have linear double-stranded DNA and sizes of 58,992 bp (vB_Sen-IAFB3829) and 50,514 bp (vB_Sen-IAFB3830). Phages retained their activity in a wide range of temperatures (from -20 °C to 60 °C) and active acidity values (pH from 3 to 11). The exposure of phages to UV radiation significantly decreased their activity in proportion to the exposure time. The application of phages to the food matrices significantly reduced the level of contamination compared to the control. Genome analysis showed that both phages do not encode virulence or toxin genes and can be classified as virulent bacteriophages. Virulent characteristics and no possible pathogen factors make examined phages feasible to be potential candidates for food biocontrol.