Análisis genómico comparativo de los bacteriófagos líticos F7M1, F4M1B y F8M2 de Salmonella enterica serovar Infantis. Articulado al proyecto de investigación aprobado mediante Resolución Nro. UTA-CONIN-2023 0294-R

Abstract

Poultry production represents a favorable environment for the spread of pathogenic bacteria such as S. enterica. The intensive use of antibiotics has contributed to the emergence of multidrug-resistant strains, making lytic bacteriophages a promising alternative. However, it is essential to analyze the complete genomes of bacteriophages to identify the presence of genes that may produce toxins, virulence factors, or antibiotic resistance. This study used Oxford Nanopore technology to sequence three lytic bacteriophages of S. enterica serovar Infantis named F7M1-Monchaphage, F4M1B-Cloudphage, and F8M2-Gilionphage. According to the genomic characterization, F7M1 encodes 41 functional proteins and has a length of 59,185 bp with a GC content of 56.46 percent, while F4M1B encodes 43 functional proteins and has a length of 38,972 bp with a GC content of 47.52 percent. Finally, F8M2 encodes 13 functional proteins and has a length of 17,011 bp with a GC content of 48.99 percent. Genetic comparison and phylogenetic analysis placed F7M1, F4M1B, and F8M2 within the genera Chivirus, Lederbergvirus, and Berlinvirus, respectively. In F7M1 and F8M2, no genes associated with toxin production or antibiotic resistance were detected. However, F4M1B contained lysogeny-related genes, confirming it as a temperate phage, and thus it was excluded as a candidate. In contrast, F7M1 and F8M2 are considered promising candidates for the biocontrol of Salmonella in Ecuador's poultry sector.