Isolation and Molecular Characterization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Lytic Bacteriophages as a Potential Therapeutic Alternative to Traditional Antibiotics

Abstract

The emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has led to increased bacterial infections that are difficult to treat. Bacteriophage therapy presents a potential solution to this problem. In this study, three phages isolated from different water sources in Ismailia were identified as potential candidates for bacteriophage therapy to control Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria. The phages were characterized according to morphology, host range, physical characteristics, and genetic differences. Based on their head and tail features, TEM images were utilized to identify two phages from the Siphoviridae family and one from the Myoviridae family. The phages were also tested for their tolerance to different physical and chemical factors such as temperature, pH, salinity, chloroform, and exposure to the laser, blood plasma, and essential oils. The three phages exhibited different preferences and tolerances to these factors, suggesting that they may be effective against different bacterial strains of P. aeruginosa in different environments. The study demonstrates the potential of phage therapy as an alternative to antibiotic therapy and highlights the importance of understanding phage characteristics in developing effective phage formulations.