DAIRYSAFE PHAGES

Microbial group/s​: Bacteriophages
Total number of strains: 9
Taxa (number of strains):
Staphylococcus aureus bacteriophages (5)
Staphylococcus epidermidis bacteriophages (4)
Isolation source/Origin: Dairy products, sewage waters.
Preservation method: Glycerol -80 °C
Information management: Excel
Characterization level:
Complete genome sequence
Infection capacity, development cycle, host rank

Key words: Phage therapy, biocontrol, biofilm, endolysin, Staphylococcus

Summary: In this line of work we address the study of bacteriophages and phage enzymes as new biocontrol agents for pathogenic bacteria in the food chain and in the clinical setting. The works carried out range from the control of S. aureus in milk and cheese by bacteriophages and their lytic enzymes, to the combined use with bacteriocins (barrier technology). Furthermore, this biocontrol strategy can be implemented in the elimination of biofilms, in which the exopolysaccharide depolymerases produced by some phages can also play an important role in eliminating S. aureus and S. epidermidis, mainly strains with resistance to antibiotics.

The collection began in 2005 and contains bacteriophages belonging to the Siphoviridae and Myoviridae families, with high lytic capacity against planktonic cultures and biofilms of various Staphylococcus species, including strains of food and clinical importance resistant to methicillin MRSA.