Lytic Escherichia coli bacteriophage NRG-P0095 Introduction: Genomic characterization and host range analysis against ECOR and selected mutants of the Keio Collection
Background: Bacteriophages are viruses that only infect bacteria and are the most abundant biological entities on Earth. Characterization of bacteriophages, including their genome sequences and host ranges, is important for understanding their potential applications in food safety and agricultural systems as well as phage therapy in multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. Materials and Methods: Illumina sequencing was used to sequence NRG-P0095. Genome annotation and assembly were conducted with computational software. Host range analysis was assessed using spot assays on double-layer LB agar plates containing the 72 E. coli strains of the ECOR collection, as well as 9 strains from the Keio Collection, each carrying a single-gene deletion to identify receptor-binding dependencies. Results: Genome sequencing and assembly revealed that NRG-P0095 phage has a 168,549 base pair genome with 285 coding sequences (CDS). Spot assays revealed that NRG-P0095 infected 13 out of 72 E. coli strains from the ECOR collection (18%) and 8 out of 9 from the Keio Collection (88%), indicating dependence on rfaG expression for adsorption to the bacterial surface. Conclusions: NRG-P0095 is classified within the genus Tequatrovirus, a group of linear double-stranded DNA bacteriophages. This study provides new genomic insights into NRG-P0095 and its receptor requirements, offering a foundation for future research and biotechnological applications.