Characterization of Bacteriophages Specific for Multi-Drug Resistant E. Coli Isolated from Diabetic foot Patients

Abstract

Foot ulcers are the main cause of hospitalization and mortality of diabetic patients over the world. Approximately 25 % of diabetic patients will suffer from wound infections during their lifetime. Resistance of bacterial pathogens to available antibiotics has become a great load to the human health care, resulting in a significant progression of morbidity and mortality.Therefore, the use of novel solutions with antimicrobial properties such as bacteriophages attracted the attention of many investigators. In the current study, twenty seven multidrug resistant (MDR) E. coli isolates were isolated from hospitalized diabetic foot patients and bacterial identification was done based on biochemical and molecularcharacteristics using 16srRNA.  Four bacteriophages with lytic activity against MDR E. coli were obtained. Two different bacteriophages were characterized physically through the evaluating of their lytic activities at a wide range of temperatures (40–90° C) and pH values (2–12) and biologically by evaluating their host ranges and the rate of adsorption.  Transmission electron microscope (TEM) study was revealed that both phages belong to Myoviridae family. The present study opens a new window for the application of bacteriophages as promising antimicrobial agents against MDR bacteria.