Antibacterial Efficacy of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Bacteriophages on a Drosophila Infection Model.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a widespread pathogen that causes acute and chronic diseases in various organisms, including humans. Treating this antibiotic-resistant bacterium is challenging, so alternative or supplementary treatment strategies are desirable. Six novel bacteriophages specific to P. aeruginosa were isolated and classified into the genera Septimatrevirus, Kochitakasuvirus, Bruynoghevirus, and a new, unnamed genera related to Napahavirus, and Kantovirus. Their genomes were annotated and further characterized. We used the Drosophila melanogaster insect model to predict the efficacy of the phages in terms of their curative function on other organisms. Flies were chronically infected by feeding them bacteria and were subsequently treated with individual bacteriophages. The results of the Kaplan-Meier survival test revealed differences in phage efficacy and supported the hypothesis that the phages had a curative effect. These mentioned phages extended the flies' lifespan.