Expansion of bacteriophages during disease worsens intestinal inflammation and colitis

Purified phage was used to prevent tumor growth in a mouse model of bacteria aggravated-colorectal cancer. Composite E. coli phage or vehicle control was added to the drinking water of specific pathogen free (SPF) APCmin mice and animals were colonized with E.coli NC101. APCmin mice displayed no overall difference in the number of tumors that formed within the small intestine, however colonization with E. coli NC101 accelerated the growth of tumors resulting in a significant increase in large tumor formation. Importantly, bacteriophage treatment of AIEC colonized APCmin animals significantly reduced E. coli colonization. Overall design: 4 week old APCmin heterozygous mice were given a cocktail of 3 E. coli phage in drinking water for 4 weeks, then challenged with E. coli NC101 via oral gavage biweekly for 2 weeks. Mice were then maintained on drinking water containing phage mixture for 2 months.

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Gogokhia L, Buhrke K, Bell R, Hoffman B, Brown DG, Hanke-Gogokhia C, Ajami NJ, Wong MC, Ghazaryan A, Valentine JF, Porter N, Martens E, O'Connell R, Jacob V, Scherl E, Crawford C, Stephens WZ, Casjens SR, Longman RS, Round JL