Isolation and Characterization of Novel Escherichia coli O157:H7 Phage SPEC13 as a Therapeutic Agent for E. coli Infections In Vitro and In Vivo

<i>Escherichia coli</i> O157:H7 is a recognized food-borne pathogen causing severe food poisoning at low doses. Bacteriophages (phages) are FDA-approved for use in food and are suggested as natural preservatives against specific pathogens. A novel phage must be identified and studied to develop a new natural preservative or antimicrobial agent against <i>E. coli</i> O157:H7. The phage SPEC13 displayed broad host range and was classified within the <i>Ackermannviridae</i> family based on its observed characteristics by a TEM and genome analysis. In 10 min, this phage achieves a remarkable 93% adsorption rate with the host. Its latency period then lasts about 20 min, after which it bursts, releasing an average of 139 ± 3 PFU/cell. It exhibited robustness within a pH range of 4 to 12, indicating resilience under diverse environmental circumstances. Furthermore, SPEC13 demonstrated stability at an ambient temperature up to 60 °C. A whole genome and phylogenetics analysis revealed that SPEC13 is a novel identified phage, lacking a lysogenic life cycle, antibiotic resistance genes, or genes associated with virulence, thereby presenting a promising biological agent for therapeutic application. Animal studies showed that SPEC13 effectively controlled the growth of harmful bacteria, resulting in a significant improvement in colon health, marked by reduced swelling (edema) and tissue damage (mucosal injury). The introduction of SPEC13 resulted in a substantial decrease in quantities of <i>E. coli</i> O157:H7, reducing the bacterial load to approximately 5 log CFU/g of feces. In conclusion, SPEC13 emerges as a promising inclusion in the array of phage therapy, offering a targeted and efficient approach for addressing bacterial infections.