Induction of lysogenic phages from nosocomial infection causing Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) in Saudi Arabia

Archana P.Iyer; Mohamed Nabil Alama

Volume : VII, Issue : II, February - 2017

Induction of lysogenic phages from nosocomial infection causing Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) in Saudi Arabia

Archana P. Iyer, Mohamed Nabil Alama

Abstract :

Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) are a major cause of nosocomial infections worldwide. MRSA are often multidrug resistant and hence are difficult to control. Bacteriophages are attractive as therapeutic agents because they are safe for humans and highly specific and lethal to the bacteria they target. Phage therapy is currently practiced routinely and successfully in some countries. The aim of this study was to screen MRSA strains obtained from health care workers from various units of the hospitals for presence of bacteriophages. The MRSA strains were induced with mitomycin C to obtain the bacteriophages. The phage lysates were then used for host range detection. Amplified titres of the phages were used to extract genomic DNA and subjected to Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP). We found two different phages which we named EBU1 and EBU2 to be effective in lysing the MRSA strains. Further characterization of the phages will help in designing phage therapy strategies.