A Novel Bacteriophage with Broad Host Range against Clostridioides difficile Ribotype 078 Supports SlpA as the Likely Phage Receptor
Michaella Whittle, Terry W. Bilverstone, R. J. van Esveld, Arlen-Celina Lücke, Michelle M. Lister, Sarah A. Kuehne, Nigel P. Minton
Abstract
Research into phage therapy has seen a resurgence in recent years owing to growing concerns regarding antimicrobial resistance. Phage research for potential therapy against Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is in its infancy, where an optimal "one size fits all" phage cocktail is yet to be derived. The pursuit thus far has aimed to find phages with the broadest possible host range. However, for C. difficile strains belonging to certain PCR ribotypes (RTs), in particular RT 078, phages with broad host range activity are yet to be discovered. In this study, we isolate four novel myoviruses, including ΦCD1801, which exerts the broadest host range activity toward RT 078 reported in the literature. Through the application of ΦCD1801 to phage-binding assays, we provide data to support the prior notion that SlpA represents the likely phage receptor on the bacterial cell surface. Our finding directs research attention toward the isolation of phages with activity toward strains possessing defined S-layer cassette types.