Isolation of Bacteriophages from Wastewaters on Clinical Streptococcus Species

Abstract

Aim: Excessive use of antimicrobials has resulted in broad antimicrobial resistances in bacteria as well as problems in their infection treatments, which lead to increased case mortalities and medical costs. One of the alternative treatments includes use of bacteriophages. Therefore, the major aim of the current study was to isolate bacteriophages from sewages on bacteria from biological samples to potentially use in infections. Materials & methods: Urban wastewater samples were used to isolate bacteriophages on streptococcal isolates. Bacteriophages were characterized using phenotypic and genotypic methods. Results: Five bacteriophages were isolated on Streptococcus agalactiae, mostly belonging to the Caudovirales order. Conclusion: As the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria has created medical problems, identification of novel bacteriophages for use in infection treatments seems an appropriate solution.

Keywords:

• antimicrobial resistance
• bacteriophages
• biological samples
• sewage
• Streptococcus spp.

Author contributions

M Yazdanizad carried out the experiments and drafted the preliminary version of the manuscript; M Montazeri hypothesized the study concept and supervised the study; AAS Yaraghi hypothesized the study concept and advised the study; RMN Fard hypothesized the study concept, provided the materials, supervised the study and revised the preliminary version of the manuscript.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank staff within the Microbiology Laboratory, Imam Khomeini Hospital.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The current study was financially supported by a grant from the Deputy Dean for Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (grant no. 97-02-27-38134). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Ethical conduct of research

The current study was carried out based on the methods approved by the Ethics Committee of Tehran University of Medical Sciences (ethical code no. IR.TUMS.SPH.REC.1397.185).