Genomic characterization of two bacteriophages (vB_EcoS-phiEc3 and vB_EcoS-phiEc4) belonging to the genus Kagunavirus with lytic activity against uropathogenic Escherichia coli.

In this study, the genomes of two lytic bacteriophages, vB_EcoS-phiEc3 and vB_EcoS-phiEc4, were sequenced and characterized using bioinformatics approaches. Whole-genome analysis showed that both phages belonged to the Kagunavirus genus, Guernseyvirinae subfamily and Siphoviridae family. Moreover, their genomes had 45, 288 bp and 44,540 bp, and G + C content of 48.42% and 50.04%, respectively. The genome of vB_EcoS-phiEc3 harbored 80 protein coding sequences (CDSs), whereas vB_EcoS-phiEc4 harbored 75 CDSs. Among them, 50 CDSs in vB_EcoS-phiEc3 and 44 CDSs in vB_EcoS-phiEc4 were considered as functional genes. Their lytic activity against multidrug-resistant uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) strains, as well as the absence of antibiotic resistance genes, lysogenic and virulence genes, enable vB_EcoS-phiEc3 and vB_EcoS-phiEc4 as a safe therapy option against UPEC infections.