Genomic and Functional Characterization of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci-Specific Bacteriophages in the Galleria mellonella Wax Moth Larvae Model

Authors

Lynn El Haddad
Georgios Angelidakis
Justin R Clark
Jesus F Mendoza
Austen L Terwilliger
Christopher P Chaftari
Mark Duna
Serena T Yusuf
Cynthia P Harb
Mark Stibich
Anthony Maresso
Roy F Chemaly

Publication Date

7-30-2022

Journal

Pharmaceutics

DOI

10.3390/pharmaceutics14081591

PMID

36015218

PMCID

PMC9414631

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

7-30-2022

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Post-print

Published Open-Access

yes

Keywords

bacteriophage, Galleria mellonella, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium

Abstract

Phages are naturally occurring viruses that selectively kill bacterial species without disturbing the individual’s normal flora, averting the collateral damage of antimicrobial usage. The safety and the effectiveness of phages have been mainly confirmed in the food industry as well as in animal models. In this study, we report on the successful isolation of phages specific to Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci, including Enterococcus faecium (VREfm) and Enterococcus faecalis from sewage samples, and demonstrate their efficacy and safety for VREfm infection in the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella model. No virulence-associated genes, antibiotic resistance genes or integrases were detected in the phages’ genomes, rendering them safe to be used in an in vivo model. Phages may be considered as potential agents for therapy for bacterial infections secondary to multidrug-resistant organisms such as VREfm.