Poster Presentation 12th Australasian Virology Society Meeting 2024

Phage therapy for deep skin wound Staphylococcus aureus infections in a murine model.  (#252)

April Van Der Kamp 1 , Maoge Zang 1 , Lewis Vaughan 2 , Xanthe Strudwick 3 , Felise Adams 1 , Catherine Green 1 , Joseph Tucci 4 , Mwila Kabwe 4 , John Finnie 3 , Alison Cowin 3 , Belinda Martin 1 , Rob Edwards 1 , Morgyn Warner 5 , Peter Speck 1
  1. College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia
  2. Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia
  3. University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
  4. La Trobe Rural Health School, La Trobe University, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia
  5. SA Pathology, Adelaide, SA, Australia

Skin and soft tissue infections, often attributed to Staphylococcus aureus, can be a challenge in the diabetic foot ulcer setting [1] with the rise of antimicrobial resistance rendering antibiotic treatments less effective, sometimes leading to foot amputation which imposes a very high 5-year mortality of ca. 75%. There is a need for novel antimicrobial solutions, and phages are a promising antimicrobial therapy with a long history of clinical use [2]. In a murine model of S. aureus wound infection, we previously demonstrated phages added as a liquid suspension effectively reduced bacterial loads in wounds, leading to complete wound closure [3], however, there is a need to provide this level of efficacy in a more convenient format for use in the clinic. We are assessing the efficacy and safety of a phage delivery system in the form of phage-containing gels (“PhageGel”) in treating S. aureus wound infections. Preliminary in vitro results show that these systems can effectively deliver active phages, and that activity is retained for at least 3 months at 4 oC. Pilot animal studies showed the limitations in animal tolerance towards protective dressing adherence to skin which has now been addressed and the model optimized. In our improved murine model of S. aureus wound infections, we are assessing efficacy and safety of PhageGel in comparison to antibiotic treatment with an antibiotic.

 

  1. B. A. Lipsky, et al. Guidance on the diagnosis and management of foot infections in persons with diabetes. 2015: Diab. Metab. Res Rev. 2016, 32. Supp. 1:45.
  2. d'Herelle, F., Bacteriophage as a Treatment in Acute Medical and Surgical Infections. Bull N Y Acad Med, 1931. 7(5): p. 329-48.
  3. Kifelew, L.G., et al., Efficacy of phage cocktail AB-SA01 therapy in diabetic mouse wound infections caused by multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. BMC Microbiol, 2020. 20(1): p. 204.