Bentonite-Based Functional Nanoclay Enhances Bacteriophage Therapy against Enteric Infections via Toxin Adsorption and Microbiome Recovery.

Abstract

Diarrheal infections caused by antibiotic-resistant pose a serious threat to human and animal health, driving the need for innovative therapeutic strategies. This study introduces a dual-action strategy that integrates bacteriophage EC.W2-6 with bentonite to enhance bacterial clearance and macromolecular toxin removal. Phage EC.W2-6 demonstrated high specificity against enterotoxigenic (ETEC) H10407, achieving nearly 100% adsorption to host cells within 15 min and a moderate burst size of approximately 80 plaque-forming units per infected cell. Bentonite exhibited substantial dose-dependent binding of ETEC-secreted proteins and outer membrane vesicles (OMVs), with the 30-g treatment showing the highest efficiency. Nanoparticle tracking analysis confirmed a 3.56-fold reduction in OMVs at 5 g bentonite and near-complete removal at 30 g. Physicochemical analysis indicated a stabilizing effect of bentonite, showing that bentonite-phage association partially neutralized the phage surface charge (from -34.2 to -13.4 mV), forming a more stable colloidal complex with an approximately 2-fold decrease in colloidal size. In a murine diarrheal model, single therapy with either EC.W2-6 (multiplicity of infection = 0.1) or 8% bentonite conferred 60% survival, whereas combination treatment provided 100% protection with a synergistic effect. Microbiome analysis revealed that dual therapy restored gut microbial diversity and suppressed expansion, closely resembling healthy controls. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of combining bentonite with phage therapy as an integrated macromolecular intervention against ETEC-induced diarrhea and intestinal dysbiosis.

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

Bentonite showed dose-dependent binding of ETEC-secreted proteins and OMVs, with near-complete OMV removal reported at 30 g. In mice, EC.W2-6 alone (MOI=0.1) or 8% bentonite alone each conferred 60% survival, while the combination treatment provided 100% protection and was associated with restoration of gut microbial diversity and suppression of Escherichia expansion.

Outcomes measured

• Bacterial clearance against enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) H10407
• Adsorption of ETEC-secreted proteins and outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) by bentonite
• Phage adsorption to host cells and burst size
• Survival/protection in murine diarrheal model
• Gut microbiome diversity and suppression of Escherichia expansion
• Physicochemical properties of bentonite–phage complex (zeta potential, colloidal size)

Limitations

• Sample size not reported in abstract
• Details on randomization/blinding and statistical methods not reported in abstract
• Exposure/treatment durations and timing not fully described in abstract

{
    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": null,
        "source": null,
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": null
    },
    "population": "Mice (murine diarrheal model)",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Bacterial clearance against enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) H10407",
        "Adsorption of ETEC-secreted proteins and outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) by bentonite",
        "Phage adsorption to host cells and burst size",
        "Survival/protection in murine diarrheal model",
        "Gut microbiome diversity and suppression of Escherichia expansion",
        "Physicochemical properties of bentonite–phage complex (zeta potential, colloidal size)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Bentonite showed dose-dependent binding of ETEC-secreted proteins and OMVs, with near-complete OMV removal reported at 30 g. In mice, EC.W2-6 alone (MOI=0.1) or 8% bentonite alone each conferred 60% survival, while the combination treatment provided 100% protection and was associated with restoration of gut microbial diversity and suppression of Escherichia expansion.",
    "effect_direction": "benefit",
    "limitations": [
        "Sample size not reported in abstract",
        "Details on randomization/blinding and statistical methods not reported in abstract",
        "Exposure/treatment durations and timing not fully described in abstract"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "bacteriophage therapy",
        "bentonite",
        "nanoclay",
        "enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli",
        "ETEC H10407",
        "diarrhea",
        "outer membrane vesicles",
        "toxin adsorption",
        "murine model",
        "microbiome recovery"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": []
}

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