Virulent Phage vB_EfaS_WH1 Removes Enterococcus faecalis Biofilm and Inhibits Its Growth on the Surface of Chicken Meat

Viruses. 2023 May 20;15(5):1208. doi: 10.3390/v15051208.

Abstract

Enterococcus faecalis is a potential animal and human pathogen. Improper use of antibiotics encourages resistance. Bacteriophages and their derivatives are promising for treating drug-resistant bacterial infections. In this study, phylogenetic and electron microscopy analyses of phage vB_EfaS_WH1 (WH1) isolated from chicken feces revealed it to be a novel phage in the family Siphoviridae. WH1 showed good pH stability (4-11), temperature tolerance (4-60 °C), and broad E. faecalis host range (60% of isolates). Genome sequencing revealed a 56,357 bp double-stranded DNA genome with a G+C content of 39.21%. WH1 effectively destroyed E. faecalis EF01 biofilms, even at low concentrations. When WH1 was applied at 1 × 105 to 1 × 109 PFU/g to chicken breast samples stored at 4 °C, surface growing E. faecalis were appreciably eradicated after 24 h. The phage WH1 showed good antibacterial activity, which could be used as a potential biocontrol agent to reduce the formation of E. faecalis biofilm, and could also be used as an alternative for the control of E. faecalis in chicken products.

Keywords: Enterococcus faecalis; bacteriophage; biocontrol agent; biofilm; genome.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacteriophages* / genetics
  • Biofilms
  • Chickens / genetics
  • Enterococcus faecalis
  • Genome, Viral
  • Humans
  • Meat
  • Phylogeny

Grants and funding

This study was supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (No. 140422008), the technological innovation of prevention and control of genetic diseases (G2022027013L), the China Agriculture Research System of MOF and MARA (CARS-41-G13), and the Hubei Major Science and Technology Research and Development Project (2020-620-000-002-04 and 2020-620-000-002-01, and the Key Research and Development Project of Hubei Province 2022BBA0055. And The APC was funded by [Development Project of Hubei Province 2022BBA0055]. The authors would like to thank members of their laboratory for their helpful and constructive advice.