Isolation and phenotypic characterization of bacteriophages targeting multidrug-resistant biofilm-forming uropathogenic Escherichia coli from hospital sewage
Abstract
Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is a major cause of urinary tract infections (UTIs), with multidrug resistance (MDR) and biofilm formation complicating treatment. This study isolated and phenotypically characterized bacteriophages targeting MDR and biofilm-forming UPEC from hospital sewage in Ethiopia. Twenty-three archived MDR UPEC isolates were screened for biofilm formation, and phages were characterized by host range, efficiency of plating, multiplicity of infection (MOI), adsorption kinetics, one-step growth, environmental stability, and biofilm biomass reduction. Eight isolates (34.8%) formed biofilms, including 3 strong, 1 moderate, and 4 weak biofilm formers. Two phages, ΦET-3175 and ΦFETA-207, were isolated with titers of 1.35 × 10⁹ and 1.12 × 10⁹ PFU/mL, respectively. ΦET-3175 showed broader activity, with detectable activity against 6/23 (26.1%) isolates, an optimal MOI of 0.1, > 95% adsorption within 20 min, a latent period of approximately 30 min, and a burst size of 147 ± 4.6 PFU per infected cell. Both phages retained detectable activity across pH 4–10 and at temperatures up to 50 °C. ΦET-3175 reduced biofilm biomass by 3.2–39.5% among four susceptible biofilm-forming isolates, but the paired difference was not statistically significant (Z = − 1.826, p = 0.068). These findings provide preliminary in-vitro phenotypic evidence and support further genomic, structural, and biological characterization.
Related
- Phenotypic Characterization of OXA-439, an OXA-163 variant, isolated from uropathogenic Escherichia coli
- Isolation and characterization of human skin-derived bacteriophages with antibacterial and antibiofilm activity against coagulase-negative staphylococci
- Whole-genome sequencing-based characterization of antimicrobial resistance determinants and phenotype–genotype concordance in uropathogenic Escherichia coli isolates from ICU patients in Saudi Arabia
- Genomic and phenotypic characterization of novel jumbo and small bacteriophages infecting Xanthomonas hortorum pv. vitians : toward a phage-based biocontrol strategy
- Isolation, identification, and slow-growth phenotype characterization of a clinically derived Escherichia coli from urinary tract infection
BibTeX
@article{tamrat2026isolation,
title = {{Isolation and phenotypic characterization of bacteriophages targeting multidrug-resistant biofilm-forming uropathogenic Escherichia coli from hospital sewage}},
author = {Ephrem Tamrat and Awoke Derbie and Feleke Mekonnen and Zelalem Asmare and Alene Geteneh and Tesfaye Kassa},
journal = {Scientific Reports},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-73906-9},
url = {https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-73906-9},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Isolation and phenotypic characterization of bacteriophages targeting multidrug-resistant biofilm-forming uropathogenic Escherichia coli from hospital sewage
AU - Ephrem Tamrat
AU - Awoke Derbie
AU - Feleke Mekonnen
AU - Zelalem Asmare
AU - Alene Geteneh
AU - Tesfaye Kassa
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - Scientific Reports
DO - 10.1038/s41598-026-73906-9
UR - https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-73906-9
AB - Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is a major cause of urinary tract infections (UTIs), with multidrug resistance (MDR) and biofilm formation complicating treatment. This study isolated and phenotypically characterized bacteriophages targeting MDR and biofilm-forming UPEC from hospital sewage in Ethiopia. Twenty-three archived MDR UPEC isolates were screened for biofilm formation, and phages were characterized by host range, efficiency of plating, multiplicity of infection (MOI), adsorption kinetics, one-step growth, environmental stability, and biofilm biomass reduction. Eight isolates (34.8%) formed biofilms, including 3 strong, 1 moderate, and 4 weak biofilm formers. Two phages, ΦET-3175 and ΦFETA-207, were isolated with titers of 1.35 × 10⁹ and 1.12 × 10⁹ PFU/mL, respectively. ΦET-3175 showed broader activity, with detectable activity against 6/23 (26.1%) isolates, an optimal MOI of 0.1, > 95% adsorption within 20 min, a latent period of approximately 30 min, and a burst size of 147 ± 4.6 PFU per infected cell. Both phages retained detectable activity across pH 4–10 and at temperatures up to 50 °C. ΦET-3175 reduced biofilm biomass by 3.2–39.5% among four susceptible biofilm-forming isolates, but the paired difference was not statistically significant (Z = − 1.826, p = 0.068). These findings provide preliminary in-vitro phenotypic evidence and support further genomic, structural, and biological characterization.
SN - 2045-2322
ER -