Phage therapy has served as a good alternative to antibiotics by using bacteriophages to treat various infections caused by bacteria. Equipped with world-leading technology platforms and professional scientific staff, Creative Biolabs provides strong support in the development of phage-related therapies against Brucella for our clients all over the world.
Brucella is a genus of Gram-negative bacteria Brucella spp. which are always non-spore-forming and non-motile. Similar to other Gram-negative bacilli, the outer cell membrane contains three main groups of proteins and a dominant lipopolysaccharide (LPS) component. Brucella readily accepts plasmids with a broad host range but has not been found to carry plasmids naturally. Typically, Brucella colonies become visible after 2-3 days on a solid medium. They can survive a variety of extremes of temperature, pH, and humidity. However, Brucella is slow to reproduce at 37°C and requires rich media to sustain growth.
Brucella spp. specifically infect many species. For example, brucellosis is a zoonotic disease caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella and can be transmitted through ingestion of contaminated food, direct contact with infected animals, or inhalation of aerosols. Till now, there is no clinical trials exist for optimal treatment.
The B. cereus group comprises a variety of gram-positive, spore-forming bacterial species that are genetically closely related. There are six species of Brucella. Among them, B. abortus, B. melitensis, and B. suis are serious pathogens for humans, B. canis causes mild disease, while the other two don't affect humans. The most prominent members include as follows:
Bacteriophage refers to a virus that infects and reproduces on bacteria. Phages capable of infecting the genus Brucella are called Brucella phages. Lytic phages are able to multiply in living bacterial cells without disrupting the normal flora. In the past decades, bacteriophages have been widely used for the identification of Brucella species. The phage-based method includes pure Brucella culture isolation, and a plaque assay, requiring 2-3 days of incubation. There are a series of diagnostic Brucella phages available, such as Tb, S708, Fz, Wb, and Bk. What's more, the self-replicating and self-limiting properties of lytic phages make them a safe and attractive alternative to antibiotics for the prevention and treatment of bacterial diseases.
Fig. 1 Lytic plaques on Brucella lawn caused by the phage. (Mohan & Saxena, 2020)
To fill the gaps in this field of phage therapy, Creative Biolabs offers the most advanced and comprehensive phage-related services today. We work to amplify your success in a highly collaborative manner. If you are interested in learning more about phages and Brucella, please do not hesitate to contact us for detailed information.
* For Research Use Only. We do not provide direct services or products for patients.