Bentonite-Based Functional Nanoclay Enhances Bacteriophage Therapy against Enteric Infections via Toxin Adsorption and Microbiome Recovery.

ABSTRACT: Diarrheal infections caused by antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli pose a serious threat to human and animal health, driving the need for innovative therapeutic strategies. This study introduces a dual-action strategy that integrates bacteriophage EC.W2-6 with bentonite to enhance bacterial clearance and macromolecular toxin removal. Phage EC.W2-6 demonstrated high specificity against enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) H10407, achieving nearly 100% adsorption to host cells within 15 min and a moderate burst size of approximately 80 plaque-forming units per infected cell. Bentonite exhibited substantial dose-dependent binding of ETEC-secreted proteins and outer membrane vesicles (OMVs), with the 30-g treatment showing the highest efficiency. Nanoparticle tracking analysis confir

SUBMITTER: Rana MS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12852568 | biostudies-literature | 2026

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature