Preparation of phage powder and its stress resistance and stability

Abstract:

[Background] Antimicrobial resistance is a serious threat to global public health, and the animal breeding is an important source of pathogen spreading. Further, our country has created a set of strategies to combat rising resistance, which include of optimizing the use (and preventing the overuse) of antibiotics. Since, novel, safe and efficient alternatives to antibiotic are highly in demand. Bacteriophages (phages) are being considered as promising potential antibacterial agents. However, phages, as living microorganisms, have some drawbacks such as poor stability and low utilization during storage and use. [Objective] Phage powder was prepared to improve the stress resistance and stability of phage, and to provide technical support for the application of phage in the breeding industry. [Methods] In this study, we produce a phage powder of E. coli phage BpEP4 with block polyether F-68 and the defatted rice bran excipents. The double agar plate method was used to study its stability against high temperature, pH stability and storage stability at room temperature. [Results] The phage powder can maintain the activity of phage at 100℃ and could survive in a pH range of 2.0-12.0. There is no significant reduction in phage titer after 3 months at room temperature. [Conclusion] The phage powder can significantly improve the stress resistance and stability of the phage, and has good application value and promotion prospects.