Immunogenicity and antimicrobial effectiveness of Pseudomonas aeruginosa specific bacteriophage in a human lung in vitro model

The rise of antibiotic resistant bacteria is posing a serious threat to human health. For example, resistant strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa have resulted in untreatable and potentially lethal infections in both cystic fibrosis and immunocompromised patients. Due to the growing need for alternative treatment options, bacteriophage, or phage, therapy is gaining considerable attention. While previous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of phage in combating persistent bacterial infections, there is currently a lack of knowledge regarding the host immunological response following phage exposure. In the present study, the bioresponses of an enhanced in vitro model were characterized following exposure to either DMS3 or PEV2, P. aeruginosa targeting phages. Results demonstrated a PEV2-dependent increase in IL-6 and TNF-α production, but no changes associated with DMS3 exposure. Additionally, following the establishment of an in vitro infection model, DMS3 was found to successfully protect mammalian lung cells from P. aeruginosa. Taken together, the biocompatibility and antibacterial effectiveness distinguish DMS3 bacteriophage as a strong candidate for phage therapy. However, as DMS3 is pilin dependent and bacterial receptor expression varies significantly, this work highlights the necessity of generating phage cocktails.