Isolation and Characterization of Acinetobacter phage DMU3 Targeting Multidrug Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii MRSN6541
Description
Acinetobacter baumannii is a challenging pathogen and a cause for growing concern in healthcare settings due to its acquired multidrug resistance or pan-resistance to standard or last-line antibiotics and resistance to normal methods of disinfection. This opportunistic pathogen can cause a variety of infections such ventilator associated pneumonia, wound infections, and sepsis primarily in vulnerable patients with compromised immune systems. Globally, the prevalence of A. baumannii pneumonia and mortality rates are increasing, with mortality rate estimated to reach 43%. These facts highlight the need for advancements in alternative therapies.
Advancements in bacteriophage (phage) therapy, using viruses that target bacteria as an antimicrobial drug, are leading towards better treatment alternatives for multidrug resistant bacteria. Using their ability to infect, replicate within, and lyse only bacterial cells, phages are being looked at as a viable treatment method against A. baumannii. Phages are recognized as earth’s most abundant biological agent and have extremely diverse morphologies and genomic makeup. The first step in the process of developing a phage therapy is the isolation and characterization of novel phage. Our study aims to do this using the multi-drug resistant strain A. baumannii MRSN6541, a clinical isolate from a wound infection in 2012.
To date, we have successfully isolated and generated a high titer phage stock of a MRSN6541 targeting phage DMU3 from activated sludge obtained from the local wastewater treatment facility. DMU3 produces plaques with halos on lawns of MRSN6541. We will further analyze this phage to determine its suitability as a candidate for phage therapy by characterizing its morphology, genome, virulence/growth kinetics, and host range.
Citation Information
Maleehah, Faaizah; Mei, Victor; and Carruthers, Michael, "Isolation and Characterization of Acinetobacter phage DMU3 Targeting Multidrug Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii MRSN6541" (2026). Office of Research DMU Research Symposium. 63.
https://digitalcommons.dmu.edu/researchsymposium/2025rs/2025abstracts/63
Isolation and Characterization of Acinetobacter phage DMU3 Targeting Multidrug Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii MRSN6541
Acinetobacter baumannii is a challenging pathogen and a cause for growing concern in healthcare settings due to its acquired multidrug resistance or pan-resistance to standard or last-line antibiotics and resistance to normal methods of disinfection. This opportunistic pathogen can cause a variety of infections such ventilator associated pneumonia, wound infections, and sepsis primarily in vulnerable patients with compromised immune systems. Globally, the prevalence of A. baumannii pneumonia and mortality rates are increasing, with mortality rate estimated to reach 43%. These facts highlight the need for advancements in alternative therapies.
Advancements in bacteriophage (phage) therapy, using viruses that target bacteria as an antimicrobial drug, are leading towards better treatment alternatives for multidrug resistant bacteria. Using their ability to infect, replicate within, and lyse only bacterial cells, phages are being looked at as a viable treatment method against A. baumannii. Phages are recognized as earth’s most abundant biological agent and have extremely diverse morphologies and genomic makeup. The first step in the process of developing a phage therapy is the isolation and characterization of novel phage. Our study aims to do this using the multi-drug resistant strain A. baumannii MRSN6541, a clinical isolate from a wound infection in 2012.
To date, we have successfully isolated and generated a high titer phage stock of a MRSN6541 targeting phage DMU3 from activated sludge obtained from the local wastewater treatment facility. DMU3 produces plaques with halos on lawns of MRSN6541. We will further analyze this phage to determine its suitability as a candidate for phage therapy by characterizing its morphology, genome, virulence/growth kinetics, and host range.
