Precision Phage Cocktail Targeting Surface Appendages for Biocontrol of in Cold-Stored Foods.

is a major food-borne pathogen causing food poisoning. The use of bacteriophages as alternative biocontrol agents has gained renewed interest due to the rising issue of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. We isolated and characterized three phages targeting : SPN3US, SPN3UB, and SPN10H. Morphological and genomic analyses revealed that they belong to the class . SPN3UB, SPN3US, and SPN10H specifically target bacterial surface molecules as receptors, including O-antigens of lipopolysaccharides, flagella, and BtuB, respectively. The phages exhibited a broad host range against strains, highlighting their potential for use in a phage cocktail. Bacterial challenge assays demonstrated significant lytic activity of the phage cocktail consisting of the three phages against UK1, effectively delaying the emergence of phage-resistant bacteria. The phage cocktail effectively reduced contamination in foods, including milk and pork and chicken meats, during cold storage. These results indicate that a phage cocktail targeting different host receptors could serve as a promising antimicrobial strategy to control .