The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize a lytic Yersinia enterocolitica-specific phage (KFS-YE) as a biocontrol agent. KFS-YE was isolated and purified with the final concentration of (11.72 ± 0.03) log PFU/ml from poultry. As observed ...
The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize a lytic Yersinia enterocolitica-specific phage (KFS-YE) as a biocontrol agent. KFS-YE was isolated and purified with the final concentration of (11.72 ± 0.03) log PFU/ml from poultry. As observed by transmission electron microscopy, KFS-YE consisted of an icosahedral head and a contractile tail, and was classified in the Myoviridae family. KFS-YE showed excellent narrow specificity against Y. enterocolitica only. Its lytic activity was stable at wide ranges of pH (4-11) and temperature (4-50°C). The latent period and burst size of KFS-YE were determined to be 45 min and 38 PFU/cell, respectively. KFS-YE showed relatively robust storage stability at -20, 4, and 22°C for 40 weeks. KFS-YE demonstrated a bactericidal effect in vitro against Y. enterocolitica and provided excellent efficiency with a multiplicity of infection as low as 0.01. This study demonstrated the excellent specificity, stability, and efficacy of KFS-YE as a novel biocontrol agent. KFS-YE may be employed as a practical and promising biocontrol agent against Y. enterocolitica in food.