Isolation of lytic phages against pathogenic E.coli isolated from diabtic ulcers

In the present study, we have tried to isolate an effective lytic bacteriophages on drug-resistant Escherichia coli isolated from diabetic ulcer wounds.
Two E.coli strains were isolated by using standard methods from patients in Razi Hospital of Rasht. Waste water of the same hospital was used as a source for isolation of lytic bacteriophages. Agar layer method was used to isolate and plaque finding. Determination of host range of isolated phages was performed using five standard reference collection of E. coli. Finally, Transmission electron microscopy was used for morphological analysis of the isolated bacteriophages. Morphotype and family of isolated phages were determined based on Bradley recommendation and final version of International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) report, respectively.
The results showed that the isolated bacteria were highly resistant to the antibiotics tested. Based on morphological characteristics, the separated virus belongs to siphoviridae family. Based on Bradley classification, isolated phage against strains of E.coli belongs to the morphotype B1.
The isolated bacteriophage from waste water efficiently lysed the multiresistant strains of E. coli. Therefore, bacteriophages could potentially be used as an alternative for antibiotics for treating infections by multiresistant E. coli.