Comparative evaluation of long-term preservation methods for morphologically distinct bacteriophages

Phage therapy, which involves treating bacterial infections using bacteriophages (phage), has shown promise as an alternative to antibiotics and can offer a solution for treating infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. However, phages are not conventional drugs and can lose their viability when stored under unsuitable conditions. Their high diversity makes finding a standard storage method for long-term preservation challenging. Here, we studied the stability of phages under different storage conditions and identified key factors affecting their viability. We have also identified a specific storage condition that can effectively preserve a wide range of phage morphotypes for over 2 years.