DETERMINATION OF HOST RANGE AND BACTERIAL GROWTH REDUCTION POTENTIAL OF BACTERIOPHAGE AGAINST E. COLI

Abstract

A gram-negative bacillus called Escherichia coli (E. coli) is considered to be a normal component of intestinal flora, but it may also cause intestinal and extraintestinal illnesses in people. The emergence of antibiotic resistance has made treating E. Coli infections with antibiotics more difficult. Therefore, a novel alternative approach to treating these infections is needed. With an estimated 1031 particles, bacteriophages are the most common biological entity on Earth. They invade bacterial cells as required intracellular parasites. They can multiply and lyse bacterial cells, and they have a high host specificity. Two new native bacteriophages that fight E. coli were discovered, identified, and given the names EP1 and EP2 during this study. Both these phages were found to have a specific host range for E. coli. EP1 was able to lyse 7 out of 10 different E. coli clinical isolates and EP2 was able to lyse 5 out of 10 isolates but could not infect bacteria from other species. The distinct phages were viable at temperatures as high as 50°C and pH values between 3 and 9. For eighteen hours, EP1 prevented the development of germs. However, by blocking and lowering the initial bacterial inoculum count until 24 hours of observation, EP2 demonstrated exceptional bacterial reduction abilities. It is proposed that both of these bacteriophages (EP1 and EP2) may be viable phage treatment options in the future following the required animal models and clinical studies, given their superior bacterial growth reduction, phage titer, pH and temperature stability, and host range.