• Login
• Admin

Besler, Ibrahim (2025) Isolation, characterisation and assessment of therapeutic potential of bacteriophages which infect P. multocida. PhD thesis, University of Nottingham.

Preview

PDF (Thesis - as examined) - Requires a PDF viewer such as GSview, Xpdf or Adobe Acrobat Reader Available under Licence All Rights Reserved. Download (8MB) | Preview

Abstract

Pasteurella multocida (P. multocida) is a significant veterinary pathogen causing infections in avian and mammalian species, leading to substantial economic losses globally, particularly where multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains complicate treatment. Bacteriophage therapy presents a potential alternative to combat these infections, especially where conventional antibiotics are failing. This study aimed to isolate and characterise novel P. multocida phages from environmental sources and evaluate their therapeutic potential.

Fifteen distinct bacteriophages specifically targeting P. multocida were successfully isolated from raw sewage samples. All isolates were identified as tailed phages smillar to the Siphoviridae like morphology, possessing icosahedral capsids and linear double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (dsDNA) genomes. Physiological characterisation revealed stability across a pH range of 4-10 and temperatures up to 50°C, with three phages demonstrating notable tolerance up to 60°C. The phages exhibited narrow host ranges and moderate replication kinetics, with an average latent period of 40 minutes and burst sizes ranging from 30.2 to 52.5 PFU/cell. Genomic analysis confirmed high sequence similarity among the isolates and classified them as temperate Mu-like phages (Vieuvirus genus), closely related to prophages found in P. multocida genomes but distinct from previously characterised lytic phages. In vivo assessment using a Galleria mellonella infection model with selected phages (P1 and N1) demonstrated that prophylactic administration provided significantly greater protection against lethal P. multocida challenge compared to therapeutic treatment.

Item Type:	Thesis (University of Nottingham only) (PhD)
Supervisors:	Jones, Michael Atterbury, Robert
Keywords:	Pasteurella multocida; Bacteriophage therapy; Novel temperate phages
Subjects:	Q Science > QR Microbiology
Faculties/Schools:	UK Campuses > Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > School of Veterinary Medicine and Science
Item ID:	82684
Depositing User:	BESLER, IBRAHIM
Date Deposited:	31 Dec 2025 04:40
Last Modified:	31 Dec 2025 04:40
URI:	https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/82684

Actions (Archive Staff Only)

Edit View