Isolation and identification of specific lytic bacteriophage vB_CacS-ZE against Cutibacterium acnes from skin lesions

Background and Objectives:In recent years, prevalence of antibiotic resistance is reported for Cutibacterium acnes. The aim of this study was to isolate a specific bacteriophage against Cutibacterium acnes to be used for bacteriophage therapy of acne vulgaris caused by this bacterium.Materials and Methods:In this study, samples were collected from different areas of the skin surface of ۵۰ patients aged ۱۸ to ۶۰ years old having symptoms of acne vulgaris. Then, differential diagnostic tests were performed. Two hundred volunteers aged ۱۸-۶۰ years old with healthy skin and free of typical acne lesions were selected for isolation of the bacteriophage. Bacteriophage characteristics such as morphology, stability in different temperature, pH and soluble salts were evaluated. Moreover, adsorption rate, latent and rise periods, burst size and phage genome size estimation using enzymatic digestion was studied.Results and Discussion:TEM analysis showed that the isolated phage was categorized in the Caudoviricetes class and named as vB_CacS-ZE. This bacteriophage is stable in a wide range of temperatures (+۴ to +۴۵), pH ۴-۹ and different salt concentrations (۱, ۵, ۱۰, ۲۰%). MOI ۰.۱ was the best phage concentration to inhibit C. acnes. In this regard, after ۲۵ min, ۸۶% of vB_CacS-ZE phages were attached to their hosts, latent and the rise periods were ۱۸ and ۱۲ h, respectively, and its burst size was about ۱۰۰ phage particles for each infected cell. The bacteriophage genome size was estimated to be about ۲۸,۶۰۰bp.Conclusion:As a result, if phage therapy can be used to treat skin acne due to the high prevalence of acne vulgaris, the use of local and systemic antibiotics and, accordingly, the cost of treatment will be reduced in the era of antibiotic resistance.

کلیدواژه ها:

Cutibacterium acnes ، antibiotic resistance ، acne vulgaris ، phage therapy