THE EFFECT OF ESCHERICHIA COLI BACTERIOPHAGE COCKTAIL ON BACTERIAL CONTAMINATION IN WATER

Year 2024, Volume: 48 Issue: 1, 242 - 250, 20.01.2024

Hilal Basak Erol , Aylin Keskin

https://doi.org/10.33483/jfpau.1390191

Abstract

Objective: Wastewater and environmental water resources are treated to eliminate pathogenic microorganisms but contamination is still a significant problem. In particular, the presence of contamination with Escherichia coli (E. coli) is an important indicator of fecal contamination. Due to increasing antimicrobial resistance and failures of new antimicrobial processes, interest in bacteriophages in pathogen control has increased. Therefore, in our study, phage-based bacteria control in environmental waters was investigated as a natural solution.
Material and Method: In our study, E. coli and lytic bacteriophages specific to these E. coli were isolated from environmental water samples in Ankara. The lytic activities of the isolated phages were determined on environmental and clinical extended-spectrum β-lactamases E. coli isolates. Three phages with high lytic activity were selected, and the effectiveness of the single phage and their mixtures on E. coli contamination in water was tested.
Result and Discussion: As a result of the study, 17 E. coli strains were isolated from 30 environmental water samples. Lytic bacteriophages in 30 different plaque structures were also isolated from water samples. The isolated phages were found to have lytic activity in the range of 32-70% on the tested bacteria. The effectiveness of three selected phages and their cocktail on E. coli contamination in water was measured at 6th and 24th. As a result, it was observed that the cocktail application reduced the number of host bacteria in the water below detectable limits, also provided a 5-log reduction in non-host test bacteria and maintained its effect for 24 hours. When the results are evaluated, it is thought that cocktail phage application will be an effective method against E. coli contamination in water.

Keywords

Escherichia coli, phage application, phage cocktail, water contamination

Ethical Statement

Gerekmemektedir.

Supporting Institution

TÜBİTAK

Project Number

1919B012213181

ESCHERICHIA COLI BAKTERİYOFAJ KOKTEYLİNİN SUDAKİ BAKTERİ KONTAMİNASYONU ÜZERİNE ETKİSİ

Abstract

Amaç: Atık su ve çevresel su kaynaklarında patojen mikroorganizmaları ortadan kaldırmak için arıtma yapılsa da bulaş hâlâ önemli bir sorundur. Özellikle Escherichia coli (E. coli) ile kontaminasyonun varlığı dışkı ile kontaminasyonun önemli bir göstergesidir. Artan antimikrobiyal direnç ve yeni antimikrobiyal geliştirme süreçlerindeki başarısızlıklar nedeniyle patojen kontrolünde bakteriyofajlara olan ilgi artmıştır. Bu nedenle çalışmamızda doğal bir çözüm önerisi olarak çevresel sularda faj bazlı bakteri kontrolü araştırılmıştır.
Gereç ve Yöntem: Çalışmamızda Ankara ili çevresel su örneklerinden E. coli ve bu bakterilere özgü litik bakteriyofajlar izole edilmiştir. İzole edilen fajların litik etkinlikleri çevresel ve klinik E. coli izolatları üzerinde belirlenmiştir. Yüksek litik etkinliğe sahip 3 faj seçilerek, fajların tek tek ve karışımlarından hazırlanan kokteylinin sudaki E. coli kontaminasyonu üzerine etkinlikleri test edilmiştir.
Sonuç ve Tartışma: Çalışma sonucunda 30 çevresel su örneğinden 17 E. coli suşu izole edilmiştir. Su örneklerinden aynı zamanda 30 farklı plak yapısında litik bakteriyofaj izolasyonu sağlanmıştır. İzole edilen fajların test edilen bakteriler üzerinde %32-70 aralığında litik etkinliğe sahip oldukları bulunmuştur. Seçilen üç fajın ve bunlardan hazırlanan kokteylin sudaki E. coli kontaminasyonu üzerine etkinliği 6 ve 24. saatte ölçülmüştür. Bunun sonucunda kokteyl uygulamasının sudaki konak bakteri sayısını tespit edilebilen sınırların altına düşürdüğü ayrıca konak olmayan test bakterilerinde 5 log azalma sağladığı ve etkisini 24 saat süresince de koruduğu görülmüştür. Sonuçlar değerlendirildiğinde kokteyl faj uygulamasının sudaki E. coli kontaminasyonuna karşı etkin bir yöntem olacağı düşünülmektedir.

Keywords

Escherichia coli, faj kokteyli, faj uygulaması, su kontaminasyonu

Project Number

1919B012213181

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