PHAGE-BACTERIA INTERACTIONS UNDER METAL STRESS: A STUDY OF THE NOVEL STENOTROPHOMONAS MALTOPHILIA PHAGE VB_STM18.

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is a highly adaptable gram-negative bacteria, demonstrating resilience in metal-contaminated environment, which makes it a key subject for understanding microbial survival under heavy metal stress. This study investigates the effects of cadmium ions (Cd²⁺) on the growth dynamics, cadmium uptake, and bacteriophage vB_Stm18-host interactions, with implications for environmental microbiology and applied biotechnology. Growth analysis revealed that S.