735. Bacteriophage Therapy Improves Survival of Galleria mellonella Larvae Injected with Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus faecium

BACKGROUND: Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE) is a major multidrug-resistant organism which may cause infection or colonization in hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) patients. The use of VRE-specific bacteriophages (phages) may potentially help eradicate VRE colonization and subsequent infections. To test the efficacy and safety of phages against VRE in vivo, a cocktail combining four phages was used in a VRE-infected larva model. METHODS: The pre-screening model Greater Wax Galleria mellonella larva was used in this study. Larvae were infected with VRE by injecting a VRE strain isolated from stools of a VRE-colonized HCT patient at a concentration of 10(7) colony-forming units/10 μL. A single phage (MDA1) or a phage cocktail (MDA1, MDA2, MDA3, and MDA4) were also injected at a concentration of 10(6) colony-forming units/10 μL. Two model groups were tested; a prevention group (PG) and a treatment group (TG). For the PG, phages were administered 1 hour before bacterial injection whereas the TG were injected with phages 1 hour post bacterial injection. Control groups included larvae injected with bacteria alone, phages alone (to measure toxicity due to phage administration), sterile media (to measure any lethal effects due to physical trauma from the injection), or without any manipulation. Every group was composed of 5 larvae. The insect’s health state was observed and scored after 8 hours of incubation at 37ºC using a published health index scoring system. RESULTS: Phages improved survival of VRE-infected larvae (table). Only 32% of the VRE-infected larvae survived after 8 hours of infection whereas more than 80% survived when adding phages, whether phages were administered before or after VRE infection. The phage cocktail was shown to be more effective than the single phage MDA1 in improving survival (66% vs. 82% survival). Injecting larvae with phages alone was safe as the same survival rate was observed when compared with those injected with sterile media or those without manipulation. CONCLUSION: The use of larva model G. mellonella allows for rapid and efficient screening of the bacterial virulence and phage efficacy and safety. Such results highlight the feasibility and the potential impact of phage therapy on VRE colonization and infections. [Image: see text] DISCLOSURES: Roy F. Chemaly, MD, MPH, FACP, FIDSA, Chimerix: Advisory Board, Research Grant; Clinigen: Advisory Board; Merck: Advisory Board, Consultant, Grant/Research Support, Research Grant, Speaker’s Bureau; Oxford immunotec: Consultant, Grant/Research Support; Shire: Research Grant, Speaker’s Bureau; Viracor: Grant/Research Support.