Isolation and Characterization of Bacteriophage against Drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most successful pathogens due to its vast arsenal of virulence factors, including anchor proteins, secreted toxins and enzymes, polysaccharides, and immune system modulators. Bacteriophages are viruses that specifically target and infect bacterial cells. Bacteriophage is studied widely to improve the safety of foods and prevent food borne diseases of bacterial etiology, as well as to reduce the use of antibiotics in livestock. Besides, therapeutic applications of bacteriophage in human and the usage of phages in veterinary medicine and agriculture are also highly assessed. Hence, the present study aimed to isolate and to characterize Staphylococcus aureus specific bacteriophage. Bacteriophages were isolated from various environmental water samples. After incubation growth occurred in MSA and NA plate. On Staphylococcus aureus, antibiotic discs showed some useful identifying zones. It was performed with the use of five antibiotics: Penicillin, Oxacillin, Tetracyclin, Gentamycin and Cefoxitin. Penicillin, Oxacillin are showing no zones, for that reason showed resistant pattern. Environmental phages were then selected based on the size and clarity of their plaques. Bacteriophage produce some clear zone against bacteria. The isolated bacteriophages were found to be able to lyse the Staphylococcus aureus. S. aureus was isolated on nutrient agar media and mannitol salt agar media and confirmed by biochemical test like catalase test, coagulase test and oxidase test. Drug-resistant S. aureus also form some specific zones in the nutrient agar plates. Then allowed to compare this two specific zones stability.