Interactions between bacteriophages and mammals strongly affect possible applications of bacteriophages. This has created a need for tools that facilitate studies of phage circulation and deposition in tissues. Here, we propose red fluorescent protein (RFP)-labelled E. coli lytic phages as a new tool for the investigation of phage interactions with cells and tissues. The interaction of RFP-labelled phages with living eukaryotic cells (macrophages) was visualized after 20 min of co-incubation. RFP-labeled phages were applied in a murine model of phage circulation in vivo. Phages administered by three different routes (intravenously, orally, rectally) were detected through the course of time. The intravenous route of administration was the most efficient for phage delivery to multiple body compartments: 20 min after administration, virions were detected in lymph nodes, lungs, and liver; 30 min after administration, they were detectable in muscles; and 1 h after administration, phages were detected in spleen and lymph nodes. Oral and rectal administration of RFP-labelled phages allowed for their detection in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract only.
Keywords: HAP phage; RFP; molecular imaging; murine model; phage circulation; pharmacokinetics.