Metals Enhance the Killing of Bacteria by Bacteriophage in Human Blood.

ABSTRACT: Multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens are a major medical concern. E. coli, particularly the pathotype extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC), is a leading cause of bloodstream infections. As natural parasites of bacteria, bacteriophages are considered a possible solution to treat patients infected with antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria. However, the development of phage as an anti-infective therapeutic is hampered by limited knowledge of the physiologic factors that influence their properties in complex mammalian environments such as blood. To address this barrier, we tested the ability of phage to kill ExPEC in human blood. Phages are effective at killing ExPEC in conventional media but are substantially restricted in this ability in blood. This phage killing effect is depen

SUBMITTER: Ma L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5797145 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature