Characterization and Genome Analyses of the Novel Phages P2 and vB_AhydM-H1 Targeting .

Background: The emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains presents a global health and aquaculture challenge. Bacteriophages offer promise as an alternative to antibiotics for treating drug-resistant infections.

Methods: Two new phages, P2 and vB_AhydM-H1, targeting pathogenic were isolated from sewage water. Their morphology, growth characteristics, lytic activity, stability, and genomes were analyzed.

Results: Phage P2, a member of genus , and vB_AhydM-H1, a novel member of genus , exhibited narrow host ranges, extended latent periods, and typical burst sizes. Both phages remained stable at 40°C for 1 h and within a pH range of 4 to 10 for 3 h. The genomes of P2 and vB_AhydM-H1 spanned 42,660 bp with 49 open reading frames (ORFs) and 52,614 bp with 72 ORFs, respectively. Proteomic (ViPTree) and phylogenetic (VICTOR) analyses confirmed that both phages aligned with their respective families. DeepTMHMM predictions suggested that P2 and vB_AhydM-H1 encode three and four ORFs with transmembrane domains, respectively.

Conclusions: Safe for environmental and clinical use because of their lytic nature, and lack of virulence and resistance genes, these newly isolated phages expand the arsenal against antibiotic-resistant infections.