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Isolation and characterization of a novel Escherichia coli O157:H7-specific phage as a biocontrol agent

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Abstract

Purpose

Escherichia coli O157:H7 is one of the major foodborne pathogens of global public concern. Bacteriophages (phages) have emerged as a promising alternative to antibiotics for controlling pathogenic bacteria. Here, a lytic E. coli O157:H7-specific phage (KFS-EC) was isolated, identified, and characterized to evaluate its potential as a biocontrol agent for E. coli O157:H7.

Methods

KFS-EC was isolated from slaughterhouse in Korea. Morphological analysis, genomic analysis and several physiological tests were performed to identify and characterize the KFS-EC.

Results

A specificity test indicated KFS-EC was strictly specific to E. coli O157:H7 strains among 60 bacterial strains tested. Morphological and phylogenetic analyses confirmed that KFS-EC belongs to the Rb49virus genus, Tevenvirinae subfamily, and the Myoviridae family of phages. KFS-EC genome consists of 164,725 bp and a total of 270 coding sequence features, of which 114 open reading frames (ORFs) were identified as phage functional genes. KFS-EC does not contain genes encoding lysogenic property and pathogenicity, which ensure its safe application. KFS-EC was relatively stable (~1 log decrease) under stressed conditions such as temperatures (20 °C–50 °C), pHs (3–11), organic solvents (ethanol and chloroform), and biocides (0.1% citric acid, 1% citric acid, and 0.1% peracetic acid). KFS-EC was able to inhibit E. coli O157:H7 efficiently at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 0.01 for 8 h with greater inhibitory effect and durability and was stable at 4 °C and 22 °C over a 12-week storage period.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that KFS-EC could be used as a biocontrol agent to E. coli O157:H7.

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Funding

This research was funded by the Basic Research Program through the National Research Foundation (NRF) of Korea founded by the Ministry of Education (NRF-2017R1D1A1B03035195).

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Author notes

  1. Cheonghoon Lee and In Young Choi contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Cheonghoon Lee

  2. Institute of Health and Environment, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Cheonghoon Lee

  3. School of Food Science and Biotechnology, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea

    In Young Choi, Do Hyeon Park & Mi-Kyung Park

  4. Food and Bio-industry Research Institute, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea

    Mi-Kyung Park

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  1. Cheonghoon Lee
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  2. In Young Choi
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Contributions

CL, IYC, DHP, and M-KP conducted this study, and drafted the manuscript. M-KP supervised the study in all steps. CL, IYC, and M-KP edited the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Mi-Kyung Park.

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Lee, C., Choi, I.Y., Park, D.H. et al. Isolation and characterization of a novel Escherichia coli O157:H7-specific phage as a biocontrol agent. J Environ Health Sci Engineer 18, 189–199 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40201-020-00452-5

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