A Triple-Modality Peptide-Antibiotic-Phage Therapy Eradicates Multidrug-Resistant Serratia marcescens Biofilms

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Abstract
Serratia marcescens is an opportunistic pathogen that causes severe hospital-acquired infections, notable for its biofilm formation abilities and development of extensive antibiotic resistance. Here we evaluated the efficacy of bacteriophages, antibiotics, and antimicrobial peptides (BAP), alone and in combination, against fourteen multi-drug-resistant (MDR) S. marcescens isolates sourced from hospitals and other environmental settings in an in vitro biofilm model. Phage combination with a cocktail of sub-minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of penicillin-streptomycin, kanamycin, and ciprofloxacin, reduced biofilm biomass, however, complete decolonization was not achieved. Incorporating an antimicrobial peptide cocktail into this regimen eradicated 99.99% of multi-drug-resistant isolates grown planktonically or in surface-associated biofilms. Microscopy and viability assays confirmed extensive biofilm disruption and bacterial clearance without regrowth. These findings reveal that simultaneous interference of cell wall synthesis, protein translation, DNA replication, and membrane integrity can overcome S. marcescens antimicrobial defenses, establishing a multifaceted therapeutic framework for managing device-associated infections caused by MDR pathogens.
Funding Information
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U54CK000603)
  • National Institutes of Health National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (R01 AI168313)

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