A1 Journal article (refereed)
Fight evolution with evolution: plasmid-dependent phages with a wide host range prevent the spread of antibiotic resistances (2013)

Ojala, V., Laitalainen, J., & Jalasvuori, M. (2013). Fight evolution with evolution: plasmid-dependent phages with a wide host range prevent the spread of antibiotic resistances. Evolutionary Applications, 6(6), 925-932. https://doi.org/10.1111/eva.12076

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Ojala, Ville; Laitalainen, Jarkko; Jalasvuori, Matti

Journal or series: Evolutionary Applications

ISSN: 1752-4571

eISSN: 1752-4571

Publication year: 2013

Volume: 6

Issue number: 6

Pages range: 925–932

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Publication country: United States

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/eva.12076

Persistent website address: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/eva.12076/full

Research data link: https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.4194c

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/42307

Abstract

The emergence of pathogenic bacteria resistant to multiple antibiotics is a serious worldwide public health concern. Whenever antibiotics are applied, the genes encoding for antibiotic resistance are selected for within bacterial populations. This has led to the prevalence of conjugative plasmids that carry resistance genes and can transfer themselves between diverse bacterial groups. In this study, we investigated whether it is feasible to attempt to prevent the spread of antibiotic resistances with a lytic bacteriophage, which can replicate in a wide range of gram‐negative bacteria harbouring conjugative drug resistance–conferring plasmids. The counter‐selection against the plasmid was shown to be effective, reducing the frequency of multidrug‐resistant bacteria that formed via horizontal transfer by several orders of magnitude. This was true also in the presence of an antibiotic against which the plasmid provided resistance. Majority of the multiresistant bacteria subjected to phage selection also lost their conjugation capability. Overall this study suggests that, while we are obligated to maintain the selection for the spread of the drug resistances, the ‘fight evolution with evolution’ approach could help us even out the outcome to our favour.

Keywords: antibiotic resistance; phage therapy

Free keywords: hospital bacteria

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2013

JUFO rating: 2