Characterization and therapeutic potential of phage vB_Eco_ZCEC08 against multidrug-resistant uropathogenic Escherichia coli

• DOI: 10.1186/s12866-025-03903-x
• Publication Date: 2025-04-16T08:14:56Z
• Authors: Assmaa H. Hussein; Salsabil Makky; Raghda Hager; Ian F. Connerton; Ayman El-Shibiny
• Keywords: Lytic cycle; Phage therapy; Lysogenic cycle

Abstract Background Urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria have become a significant public health concern. The increasing ineffectiveness of antibiotics has led to renewed focus on investigating other strategies, such as bacteriophages, target specific pathogenic and prevent future resistance. Results This study reports the isolation characterization bacteriophage vB_Eco_ZCEC08 targeting uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). Phage is morphologically non-contractile tailed phage that exhibits strong lytic activity against UPEC with short latent period less than 15 min lysis time 20 produce high burst around 900 particles per host cell. demonstrated exceptional stability temperature [-80–60 ̊C], pH [2–11], UV exposure incubation in artificial human urine. effectively reduced counts over range infection rates, MOI 1 most effective, which resulted limited emergence phage-insensitive bacteria. A whole-genome 47.926 bp identified one tRNA gene 84 predicted genes. Comparative genomics phylogenetic analysis suggest belongs same genus Salmonella vB_SenS_ST1 but represents new species. showed minimal cytotoxicity urinary bladder cancer skin fibroblast cell lines. Conclusion demonstrates selective absence any lysogenic behavior. These properties coupled inherent physiochemical low support development an alternative treatment for multidrug-resistant UPEC.