Isolation of bacteriophages from surface waters specific for Shigella dysenteriae and their characterization as potential biocontrol agents

Abstract

Shigella is a low-infectious dose pathogen that can cause disease in healthy people. It causes a range of diseases from mild watery diarrhea to severe dysentery (shigellosis). The primary objective of this project was to isolate bacteriophage against Shigella dysenteriae and to recognize its different characteristics as an antimicrobial agent to determine the therapeutic potential. In this study, Shigella dysenteria specific bacteriophage was isolated and characterized to develop a therapeutic agent. A total number of 20 samples were collected for the study of this experiment. The samples were collected from different areas of Dhaka city. The samples were initially filtered and the double layer- ager method was used for the isolation of bacteriophages. For the characterization of bacteriophages, host range specificity tests were checked. After examination of the host range, the Shigella dysenteriae phage stated that it had a wide host range as it was able to lyse 5 out of 13 distinct bacterial cultures. The most prominent bacterial hosts were ETEC, EAEC, Shiga-toxin producing E.coli (STEC), Entero pathogenic E.coli (a typical) and Shigella dysenteriae were lysed by Shigella dysenteria phage. In the case of bacteriophage isolations, clear zones were observed which indicates the presence of phages. This research, therefore, adds to the increasing amount of isolated bacteriophages, especially the particular bacteriophage of Shigella dysenteriae. Studies on its biological features may provide helpful data and understanding to identify prospective therapeutic agents against infection with Shigella dysenteriae.