Search

Xinxin Li,1– 3 Yibao Chen,1– 3 Shuang Wang,1– 3 Xiaochao Duan,1– 3 Fenqiang Zhang,1– 3 Aizhen Guo,1– 3 Pan Tao,1– 3 Huanchun Chen,1– 3 Xiangmin Li,1– 3 Ping Qian1– 3 1State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, People’s Republic of China; 2College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, People’s Republic of China; 3Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, the Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Ping Qian, Tel +86-27-87282608, Fax +86-27-87282608, Email qianp@mail.hzau.edu.cnBackground: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an important zoonotic pathogen worldwide. Infections due to MRSA are associated with higher mortality rates compared with methicillin-susceptible S. aureus. Meanwhile, bacteriophages have been shown to overcome the emergence of MRSA.Methods: Phage PHB22a, PHB25a, PHB38a, and PHB40a were isolated. Here, we evaluated the ability of a phage cocktail containing phages PHB22a, PHB25a, PHB38a, and PHB40a against MRSA S-18 strain in vivo and in vitro. Phage whole-genome sequencing, host-range determination, lytic activity, and biofilm clearance experiments were performed in vitro. Galleria mellonella larvae and a mouse systemic infection model to evaluate the efficacy of phage therapy in vivo.Results: The phage cocktail exhibited enhanced antibacterial and anti-biofilm effects compared to the single phage. Phage cocktail contained with Ca2+/Zn2+ significantly reduced the number of viable bacteria (24-h or 48-h biofilm) by more than 0.81-log compared to the phage cocktail alone. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the addition of Ca2+ and Zn2+ phage cocktail could increase the survival rate of G. mellonella larvae infected with S. aureus by 10% compared with phage cocktail alone. This was further con