Bacteriophage induces modifications in outer membrane protein expression and antibiotic susceptibility in Acinetobacter baumannii

Abstract

Bacteriophages, the most abundant biological agents targeting bacteria, offer a promising alternative to antibiotics for combating multi-drug resistant pathogens like Acinetobacter baumannii. However, the rapid development of bacteriophage resistance poses a significant challenge. This study highlights the contribution of outer membrane proteins (OMPs) in the emergence of bacteriophage resistance in A. baumannii.

The bacteriophage-sensitive and resistant isolates were studied for their native OMP profiles. Bacteriophage-tolerant A. baumannii were generated by infecting bacteria with bacteriophages and sub-culturing the survivors, and their expression of OMP and virulence was further characterized.

These tolerant strains had significantly downregulated omp genes and under-expressed OMPs. Phenotypic changes like reduced adsorption to phages, deviant growth rates, biofilm-forming capacities, higher survival in limiting conditions, higher motility, and higher alkaline protease production were observed in the phage-tolerant strains equipped with better survival and virulent properties. The tolerant strains were re-sensitized to antibiotics they previously resisted. The significantly under-expressed OMPs in phage-tolerant strains were identified as OmpA and other OMPs similar to OmpA.

This study could identify certain OMPs significantly under-expressed on bacteriophage exposure. The tolerant bacteria had altered phenotypic properties in addition to the development of phage resistance and the re-sensitisation to antibiotics, which paved the way for the future of phage therapeutics.