Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is now a major global problem largely resulting from the overuse of antibiotics in humans and livestock. In some AMR bacteria, resistance is encoded by conjugative plasmids expressing sex-pili that can readily spread resistance through bacterial populations. The aim of this study was to use sex pilus-specific (SPS) phage to reduce the carriage of AMR plasmids. Here, we demonstrate that SPS phage can kill AMR Escherichia coli and select for AMR plasmid loss in vitro. For the first time, we also demonstrate that SPS phage can both prevent the spread of AMR Salmonella Enteritidis infection in chickens and shift the bacterial population towards antibiotic sensitivity.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
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Bacterial Infections / drug therapy
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Bacterial Infections / genetics*
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Bacterial Infections / microbiology
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Bacterial Infections / virology
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Bacteriophages / genetics*
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Bacteriophages / growth & development
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Chickens / microbiology
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Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial / genetics
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Escherichia coli / drug effects
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Escherichia coli / pathogenicity
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Escherichia coli Infections / drug therapy
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Escherichia coli Infections / genetics
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Escherichia coli Infections / microbiology
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Escherichia coli Infections / virology*
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Pili, Sex / drug effects
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Pili, Sex / genetics
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Plasmids / genetics
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Poultry Diseases / drug therapy
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Poultry Diseases / genetics
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Poultry Diseases / microbiology
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Poultry Diseases / virology*
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Salmonella enteritidis / drug effects
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Salmonella enteritidis / pathogenicity