Isolation and characterization of bacteriophages targeting methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from burn patients and sewage water: a genomic and proteomic study.

The spectrum of infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) ranges from minor conditions to potentially life-threatening diseases. The rising antibiotic resistance in MRSA often leads to treatment failures, underscoring the urgent need for novel eradication strategies. This study focuses on isolating MRSA from burn patients, determining its antibiogram profile, and isolating and characterizing bacteriophages from sewage water that target MRSA, alongside conducting genomic analysis of the phages. A total of 70 samples were collected from burn patients, with MRSA identification and characterization performed using a combination of biochemical and molecular techniques, as well as antibiotic sensitivity testing. Based on host range analysis, a specific phage (phage-3) was selected for detailed characterization, including proteomic analysis, genetic mapping, phylogenetic studies, and analysis of open reading frames (ORFs) and motifs. The prevalence of MRSA in the samples was found to be 28.6%. Antibiotic susceptibility tests indicated that 94% of the MRSA isolates were sensitive to tobramycin and gentamicin, while vancomycin exhibited the lowest sensitivity, with only 2% effectiveness. Using the soft agar overlay method, three bacteriophages (phage-1, phage-2, and phage-3) were successfully isolated from sewage water. Among these, phage-3 exhibited the broadest host range. Further analysis showed that phage-3 demonstrated optimal activity at pH levels between 6 and 8, and within a temperature range of 20-40 °C. Phage-3 also displayed a rapid adsorption phase within the first 0-5 min, and its one-step growth curve revealed a latent period lasting up to 30 min, followed by a significant increase in titer from 30 to 50 min. Proteomic analysis of phage-3 identified the presence of 33 kDa and 65 kDa proteins. Phylogenetic analysis showed that phage-3 shares 96.6% similarity with Mammallicoccus phage vB_MscM-PMS3. The ORF analysis identified 80 potential ORFs within the phage's entire genome.
Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval: All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the Ethical standards of the Institutional Biosafety Ethical approval from University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (Ref. No. 1292/ORIC/2021/03 dated 18.03.2021). Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
(© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)