A Novel Bacteriophage Targeting <i>mcr-9 Enterobacter kobei</i> with Potential Application in Fresh Leafy Greens
The presence of opportunistic pathogens, such as the <i>Enterobacter cloacae</i> complex (ECC), in fresh vegetables poses a significant health risk, particularly amid the ongoing antibiotic resistance crisis. Traditional chemical decontamination methods are often ineffective and these ar...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Applied Microbiology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8007/5/1/25 |
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| Summary: | The presence of opportunistic pathogens, such as the <i>Enterobacter cloacae</i> complex (ECC), in fresh vegetables poses a significant health risk, particularly amid the ongoing antibiotic resistance crisis. Traditional chemical decontamination methods are often ineffective and these are associated with issues such as cross-resistance between antibiotics and biocides, highlighting the need for alternative approaches. This study describes the isolation of a novel phage, FENT2, with anti-ECC activity, obtained from cattle farm sewage. Belonging to the <i>Seunavirus</i> genus, FENT2 did not carry genes associated with lysogenic cycle, antimicrobial resistance, or virulence factors. The phage demonstrated lytic activity against the host strain <i>E. kobei</i> AG07E, which harbored the <i>mcr-9</i> gene, exhibiting a narrow host range that also included <i>E. ludwigii</i> strains. In vitro assays using BioTrac (SY-LAB) impedance technology confirmed the sustained lytic activity of FENT2 under food-related stress conditions, including pH levels from 5 to 7 and NaCl concentrations up to 2%. Furthermore, FENT2 demonstrated bactericidal potential on lettuce leaves, achieving 1 log reduction in bacterial counts of the host strain after 30 min immersion treatment. These findings highlight FENT2 as a promising candidate for biocontrol applications, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional decontamination methods for reducing antimicrobial-resistant ECC contamination in fresh produce. |
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| ISSN: | 2673-8007 |