The Lysis of Pathogenic Escherichia coli by Bacteriophages Releases Less Endotoxin Than by β-Lactams.

ABSTRACT:

Background.

Other than numerous experimental data assessing phage therapy efficacy, questions regarding safety of this approach are not sufficiently addressed. In particular, as phages can kill bacterial cells within <10 minutes, the associated endotoxin release (ER) in severe infections caused by gram-negative bacteria could be a matter of concern.

Methods.

Two therapeutic virulent phages and 4 reference antibiotics were studied in vitro for their ability to kill 2 pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli and generate an ER. The early interaction (first 3 hours) between these actors was assessed over time by studying the instantaneous cell viability, the colony-forming unit count, the concentration of free endotoxin released, and the cell morphology under light microscope.

SUBMITTER: Dufour N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5434335 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature