Characterization of a T4-like Bacteriophage vB_EcoM-Sa45lw as a Potential Biocontrol Agent for Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli O45 Contaminated on Mung Bean Seeds

Application of lytic bacteriophages is a promising and alternative intervention technology to relieve antibiotic resistance pressure and control bacterial pathogens in the food industry. Despite the increase of produce-associated outbreaks caused by non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) serogroups, the information of phage application on sprouts to mitigate these pathogens is lacking. Therefore, the objective of this study was to characterize a T4-like Escherichia phage vB_EcoM-Sa45lw (or Sa45lw) for the biocontrol potential of STEC O45 on mung bean seeds. Phage Sa45lw belongs to the Tequatrovirus genus under the Myoviridae family and displays a close evolutionary relationship with a STEC O157-infecting phage AR1. Sa45lw contains a long-tail fiber gene (gp37), sharing high genetic similarity with the counterpart of Escherichia phage KIT03, and a unique tail lysozyme (gp5) to distinguish its host range (STEC O157, O45, ATCC 13706, and Salmonella Montevideo and Thompson) from phage KIT03 (O157 and Salmonella enterica). No stx, antibiotic resistance, and lysogenic genes were found in the Sa45lw genome. The phage has a latent period of 27 min with an estimated burst size of 80 PFU/CFU and is stable at a wide range of pH (pH 3 to pH 10.5) and temperatures (–80°C to 50°C). Phage Sa45lw is particularly effective in reducing E. coli O45:H16 both in vitro (MOI = 10) by 5 log and upon application (MOI = 1,000) on the contaminated mung bean seeds for 15 min by 2 log at 25°C. These findings highlight the potential of phage application against non-O157 STEC on sprout seeds. IMPORTANCE Seeds contaminated with foodborne pathogens, such as Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, are the primary sources of contamination in produce and have contributed to numerous foodborne outbreaks. Antibiotic resistance has been a long-lasting issue that poses a threat to human health and the food industry. Therefore, developing novel antimicrobial interventions, such as bacteriophage application, is pivotal to combat these pathogens. This study characterized a lytic bacteriophage Sa45lw as an alternative antimicrobial agent to control pathogenic E. coli on the contaminated mung bean seeds. The phage exhibited antimicrobial effects against both pathogenic E. coli and Salmonella without containing virulent or lysogenic genes that could compromise the safety of phage application. In addition, after 15 min of phage treatment, Sa45lw mitigated E. coli O45:H16 on the contaminated mung bean seeds by a 2-log reduction at room temperature, demonstrating the biocontrol potential of non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli on sprout seeds.