[en] Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) causing post-weaning diarrhea (PWD) in piglets have a detrimental impact on animal health and economy in pig production. ETEC strains can adhere to the host’s small intestinal epithelial cells using fimbriae such as F4 and F18. Phage therapy could represent an interesting alternative to antimicrobial resistance against ETEC infections. In this study, four bacteriophages, named vB_EcoS_ULIM2, vB_EcoM_ULIM3, vB_EcoM_ULIM8 and vB_EcoM_ULIM9, were isolated against an O8:F18 E. coli strain (A-I-210) and selected based on their host range. These phages were characterized in vitro, showing a lytic activity over a pH (4–10) and temperature (25–45 °C) range. According to genomic analysis, these bacteriophages belong to the Caudoviricetes class. No gene related to lysogeny was identified. The in vivo Galleria mellonella larvae model suggested the therapeutic potential of one selected phage, vB_EcoS_ULIM2, with a statistically significant increase in survival compared to non-treated larvae. To assess the effect of this phage on the piglet gut microbiota, vB_EcoS_ULIM2 was inoculated in a static model simulating the piglet intestinal microbial ecosystem for 72 h. This study shows that this phage replicates efficiently both in vitro and in vivo in a Galleria mellonella model and reveals the safety of the phage-based treatment on the piglet microbiota.
Disciplines :
Veterinary medicine & animal health
Author, co-author :
Navez, Margaux ; Université de Liège - ULiège > GIGA > GIGA Cardiovascular Sciences - Laboratory of Translational Research in Nephrology
Antoine, Céline ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health (FARAH)
Laforêt, Fanny ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health (FARAH)
Goya-Jorge, Elizabeth ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health (FARAH) > FARAH: Santé publique vétérinaire
Douny, Caroline ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de sciences des denrées alimentaires (DDA) > Analyse des denrées alimentaires
Scippo, Marie-Louise ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de sciences des denrées alimentaires (DDA) > Analyse des denrées alimentaires
Vermeersch, Marjorie; Center for Microscopy and Molecular Imaging, Electron Microscopy Laboratory, ULB, 6041 Gosselies, Belgium
Duprez, Jean-Noël ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des maladies infectieuses et parasitaires (DMI)
Daube, Georges ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de sciences des denrées alimentaires (DDA) > Microbiologie des denrées alimentaires
Mainil, Jacques ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des maladies infectieuses et parasitaires (DMI)
Taminiau, Bernard ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health (FARAH) > FARAH: Santé publique vétérinaire
Delcenserie, Véronique ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de sciences des denrées alimentaires (DDA) > Gestion de la qualité dans la chaîne alimentaire
Thiry, Damien ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des maladies infectieuses et parasitaires (DMI) > Bactériologie vétérinaire et maladies bactériennes animales
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