Formulation of Therapeutic Phage Cocktails to Human Isolates of Salmonella enterica Serovar enteritidis

Abstract

Background: Antibiotics have revolutionized medicine in many respects. Regrettably, the use of these wonder drugs has been accompanied by the rapid appearance of resistant strains. Salmonella serotype enteritidis is one of the important causes of human illness; resistance of these bacteria to antibiotics prevents the success of proper therapy. Bacteriophage could be used as an alternative to conventional antibiotic therapy. Objectives: To formulate Iraqi therapeutic phage cocktails composed of, in-lab optimized, highly specific phages against Salmonellaenteritidis , to evaluate and measure the rate of bacterial resistance to the formulated phage cocktails. Materials and Methods: Salmonellaenteritidis bacteria were isolated from human samples and tested for antibiotics susceptibility, then specific lytic phages for these bacteria were isolated by spot lysis assay. Afterwards, phage titration was conducted and examination of phage characteristics was done by top layer plaque assay. Testing of bacterial resistance to the formulated phages cocktails was determined. Results: Seven phages were isolated for Salmonella, each phage was unique in its characteristics including clarity, shape, size, and edge of plaques formed and their titer. Conclusion: Phage cocktails are more effective than individual phages as they show clearer plaques and less resistance rate. This study concludes that phage therapy is a very promising alternative to traditional antibiotic therapy

Keywords

• Salmonella, bacteriophage, phage cocktails, phage therapy, alternative medicine