Biological characteristics of a lytic bacteriophage, <i>Eapunavirus Eap1</i>, infecting <i>Enterobacter aerogenes</i>

<b>Aim:</b> Multidrug-resistant <i>Enterobacter aerogenes</i> infection has become a serious clinical problem due to its association with various serious diseases that are difficult to treat with antibiotics. Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that can lyse bacteria and have potential therapeutic applications in controlling multidrug-resistant bacteria infection. <b>Materials &amp; methods:</b> In this study, a lytic phage, <i>Eap1</i>, specific to <i>E. aerogenes</i> was isolated and characterized. Biological characteristics of <i>Eap1</i> were examined, including transmission electron microscopy, one-step growth curve, determination of host range, stability, genomic sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. <b>Results:</b><i>Eap1</i> was classified as Family <i>Autographiviridae</i>, Genus <i>Eapunavirus</i>. <i>Eap1</i> consists of 38,938 bp with a GC content of 51.72%. The genome follows the well-conserved genomic organization of the T7-like phages. <b>Conclusion:</b> Various characteristics of <i>Eap1</i> indicate that it may be a potential candidate for clinical applications, <i>Eap1</i> is a promising alternative to antibiotic therapy for <i>E. aerogenes</i>. Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that can kill bacteria. They have therapeutic potential for controlling infections caused by bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics. In this study, a lytic phage specific to the bacteria <i>Enterobacter aerogenes</i> was characterized. The phage was classified as part of the Family <i>Autographiviridae</i>, Genus <i>Eapunavirus</i>. Various characteristics indicate that it may be a potential candidate for clinical applications. Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that can lyse bacteria and have potential therapeutic applications in controlling multidrug-resistant bacteria infection. Biological characteristics of a lytic phage (<i>Eap1</i>) specific to <i>Enterobacter aerogenes</i> were examined, including transmission electron microscopy, one-step growth curve, determination of host range, stability, genomic sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. <i>Eap1</i> was classified as Family Autographiviridae, Genus Eapunavirus and consists of 38,938 bp with a GC content of 51.72%. The genome follows the well-conserved genomic organization of the T7-like phages. Host range test indicated that <i>Eap1</i> has lytic activity specific for <i>E. aerogenes</i> strains. No tRNA, antibiotic resistance, virulence or lysogenic genes were detected in the genome. The results of gene analysis suggest <i>Eap1</i> is a potential candidate for phage therapy against multidrug-resistant <i>E. aerogenes</i> infections.