Characterization of an Indigenous Lytic Phage Targeting Multidrug-Resistant Salmonella enterica.

Multidrug-resistant pathogens have prompted the use of lytic bacteriophages. An indigenous novel lytic bacteriophage against Salmonella enterica strains from environmental wastewater was isolated and characterized using phage survivability study, adsorption curve, one-step curve, optimal multiplicity of infection, and phage-killing assay. The Salmonella strains CP90 and CP23 isolated from the same source were biochemically and molecularly characterized. The Salmonella strains CP90 and CP23 had 96.24% and 97.18% pairwise identity respectively with S. enterica. Both were resistant to B-lactam Aminoglycosides, Penicillin, and Phenicol class of antibiotics. The phage performed better in an alkaline medium and below 50°C. About 80% of the phage had an adsorption rate of 12 min and a latent period of 20 min. About 55 PFU/cell of the phage was released during a single replication cycle, inhibiting bacteria growth for up to 5 h. The characterization of this indigenous phage suggests its therapeutic potential against multidrug-resistant Salmonella species.