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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Ann Natl Acad Med Sci 2019; 55(03): 151-158
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1698545
Original Article
National Academy of Medical Sciences (India)

Bacteriophage Therapy: An Alternative to Antibiotics—An Experimental Study in Mice

Gopal Nath
1   Laboratory of Bacteriophage Therapy and Functional Genomics, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
2   Department of Microbiology, Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
,
Ram Janam
1   Laboratory of Bacteriophage Therapy and Functional Genomics, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
,
Rajesh Kumar
2   Department of Microbiology, Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
,
Mayank Gangwar
2   Department of Microbiology, Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
› Author Affiliations Funding We gratefully acknowledge that this research was supported by Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India, New Delhi, India, in the form of Junior Research Fellowship to Ram Janam.
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Publication History

Publication Date:
18 October 2019 (online)

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Abstract

The present study was planned to evaluate the efficacy of Pseudomonas aeruginosa specific phages in immunocompromised septicemia animal model as an alternative to antibiotics. Five different sets of experiments were performed: prophylactic administration of phage cocktail (3 lytic and unique) before and simultaneous with bacterial challenge; and therapeutic, that is, administration of phage cocktail 6, 12, and 24 hours after the bacterial challenge. No mortality was observed when simultaneous and late administration of phages was done with respect to the bacterial challenge. Contrary to this, administration of phage cocktail 100 µL (1012 PFU/mL) of volume after 6 hours of the infection resulted in a mortality rate of 60%. However, no mortality could be observed with reduced dose of cocktail, that is, 108, 109, and 1010 PFU administered 6 hours after bacterial challenge. Phage therapy in acute infections initiated with very small dosage under strict supervision may give better results. However, further studies to determine the quantity and frequency of dosage of phage cocktail for septicemia of various durations is strongly indicated.

Keywords

Pseudomonas aeruginosa - bacteriophage cocktail - multidrug resistant - mouse model
 

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