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Siphoviridae bacteriophage treatment to reduce abundance and antibiotic resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in wastewater

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Abstract

Wastewater contaminated with the antibiotic-resistant bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, can contribute to human community-acquired infections when released into receiving waters. This study outlines a novel process of phage application that can reduce the reservoir of P. aeruginosa in both primary wastewater (PWW) and secondary wastewater (SWW). The phage PA25 was first successfully isolated from SWW and is a double-stranded DNA phage, classified as a Siphoviridae family as defined by plaque morphology, electron microscopy and host range. Bacteria such as Pseudomonas are the natural host of this virus; the addition of Siphoviridae PA25 has resulted in the greatest reduction of bacteria from unsterilized PWW compared to unsterilized SWW. Experimental results showed a bacterial reduction of 5ULog discharge in PWW compared only 3ULog in SWW. The addition of PA25 to wastewater can also eliminate streptomycin resistance in P. aeruginosa ATCC strain 27853. Infected P. aeruginosa showed decreased resistance to the antibiotics gentamicin and rifampicin.

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Fig. 1
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Fig. 3

taken from the primary domestic and from the secondary wastewater according to the addition or not of the phage PA25. (Pg): phage PA25, StDW: Sterilized distilled water + P. aeruginosa. StDW + Pg: Sterilized distilled water + P. aeruginosa + Phage PA25 StPWW = Sterilized Primary wastewater + P. aeruginosa StPWW + Pg: Sterilized Primary wastewater + P. aeruginosa + Phage PA25. UstPWW: Unsterilized primary wastewater + P. aeruginosa UstPWW + Pg: Unsterilized primary wastewater + P. aeruginosa + Phage PA25. StSWW = Sterilized Secondary wastewater + P. aeruginosa StSWW + Pg = Sterilized Secondary wastewater + P. aeruginosa + Phage PA25. UstSWW:Unsterilized secondary wastewater + P. aeruginosa UstSWW + Pg Unsterilized secondary wastewater + P. aeruginosa + Phage PA25

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a grant from Tunisian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in the ambit of LR19CERTE04 (2o19_2022 Programs). Authors are Grateful for technical team of CERTE, particularly to Miss Nessrine Chourabi. We thank Pr. Sylvain Moineau and Pr Josée Harel and members of their teams for discussion at the beginning of the project and for phage identification. Also, authors are grateful for Pr Steven Aust for revision and English improvement.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre de Recherches et des Technologies des Eaux (CERTE) Laboratoire Eaux, Membranes Et Biotechnologies de L’Environnement (LR19CERTE04), Technopark Borj Cedria, BP 273, 8020, Soliman, Tunisia

    E. Grami, N. Salhi, A. Hafiane & N. Saidi

  2. Faculté des Sciences de Bizerte, Université de Carthage, 7021, Tunis, Tunisia

    E. Grami

  3. Coastal Ecology Laboratory, Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida, USA

    K. S. Sealey

  4. Laboratoire Microorganismes et Biomolécules Actives (LR03ES03), Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, Université Tunis El Manar, 2092, Tunis, Tunisia

    H.-I. Ouzari

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  1. E. Grami
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Correspondence to N. Saidi.

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Grami, E., Salhi, N., Sealey, K.S. et al. Siphoviridae bacteriophage treatment to reduce abundance and antibiotic resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in wastewater. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 19, 3145–3154 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-021-03366-3

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