Biomaterial Database

Investigations on Acinetophage, QAB 3.4, Targeting Extensively Drug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Isolates. 2021

Aamir Hussain, and Shaheena Kousar, and Ihsan Ullah, and Aqsa Zulfiqar, and Hafiz Arslan Ali, and Amina Manzoor, and Atif Aziz, and Asghar Javaid, and Mubashar Aziz, and Binish Khaliq, and Humera Nazir, and Aleem Ahmed Khan, and Ahmed Akrem, and Muhammad Qamar Saeed

Combined Military Hospital Multan, Multan, Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE Drug resistance against antimicrobials is on the rise at alarmingly high rates. Acinetobacter baumannii is one of the six ESKAPE pathogens which are a significant "one health" issue. Clinical isolates of A. baumannii exhibit MDR phenotype mostly and infrequently the XDR and PDR phenotype. As a result, these infections have one of the highest mortality rates in hospitals. Alternative therapies are urgently needed. METHODS Various phages were enriched against XDR clinical strain of A. baumannii. A potent phage, QAB 3.4, was further tested against 100 clinical strains. Because of its broad lytic activity, it was further tested for stability, resistance development and as an infection control agent. RESULTS Phage QAB 3.4 showed broad lytic activity against 100 MDR and XDR clinical isolates representing a wide diversity of infection sites. Assays conducted to document the phage's stability, and ability of clinical isolates to develop resistance against it, showed promising outcomes for its potential use in clinical applications. Phage QAB 3.4 was able to eradicate A. baumannii from pre-inoculated solid surfaces. It provides a proof of concept that phages can be used as environmentally friendly infection control agents. CONCLUSIONS We propose the phage QAB 3.4 is a promising candidate for further pre-clinical and clinical studies to test its biosafety and efficacy.