Isolation, characterization and genomic analysis of a novel phage IME178 with lytic activity against Escherichia coli.

Bacteriophages have been used in phage therapy for the treatment of bacterial infections. They are biological agents that used for management of diseases caused by resistant bacteria. As compared to antibiotics, phages can kill bacteria specifically. It requires more awareness about phage-host interactions by exploring new phages. Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a conditional pathogen and cause infections like pneumonia and diarrhea in hospitalized patients. In the current research work, a virus IME178, a novel strain, was extracted from the sewage of hospital against the clinical E. coli of multidrug resistant nature. Genomic characterization and transmission electron microscopy have exhibited relation of phage to the Tequintavirus genus, Demerecviridae family. The Phage IME178's double-stranded DNA genome was 108588 bp long, with a GC content of 39%. The phage genome transcribes 155 open reading frames, 72 are hypothetical proteins, 81 have putative functions assigned to them, and two are unknown to any database. A total number of 19 tRNA genes were found in the genome of this phage. There were no genes associated with virulence or drug resistance in the phage genome. According to a comparative genomic analysis, the genomic sequence of phage IME178 is 91% identical to E. coli phage phiLLS (NC 047822.1). The phage's host range and one-step growth curve were also estimated. As per genomic and bioinformatics analysis findings, Phage IME178, a propitious biological agent that infects E. coli and have the potential to use in phage therapies.