Original Articles
Parichat Phumkhachorn and Pong
Abstract
Extended-spectrum b-lactamases-producing Escherichia coli (ESBL-producing E. coli) pose a threat to antibiotic based therapeutic approach because of their multidrug resistance properties. The bacteriophage therapy has recently become a promising alternative therapeutic approach. The aims of this study are to isolate and classify a bacteriophage specific to ESBL-producing E. coli and to examine its host range. In this study, a bacteriophage, fUBU-ESBL, was isolated from water collected from a wastewater treatment pond. It was found to produce small clear plaques of 1-2 mm in diameter and to inhibit only E. coli-ESBL, but not other bacteria used in this study. Its genome was digested by the restriction enzyme BamHI indicating that the genome was double stranded DNA. As revealed by transmission electron microscopy, fUBU-ESBL had an isometric head (50 ± 3.4 nm in diameter) with a noncontractile tail (290 ± 15.1 in length). Based on its genomic and morphological characteristics, fUBU-ESBL was classified as a member in the family Siphoviridae. This study provides preliminary information showing that fUBU-ESBL had potential for further study towards its application as a therapeutic agent against ESBL-producing E. coli infectious diseases.