Isolation and characterization of E. coli O157: H7 novel bacteriophage for controlling this food-borne pathogen

•Bacteriophage MK353636 was isolated from the slaughterhouse wastewater using E. coli O157: H7 as a host.•Bacteriophage MK353636 significantly reduced E. coli O157:H7 in vitro and in foods.•The bacteriophage MK353636 host range included several strains of non-pathogenic E. coli, E. coli O157: H7, and Salmonella typhimurium, indicating presence two bacterial genera in its spectrum. E. coli O157: H7 is known as a high-risk food-born pathogen, and its removal is vital for maintaining food safety. The increasing trend of food-borne diseases caused by this bacterium and other pathogens indicates the low efficiency of the methods to remove pathogens from foodstuffs. One of the new and effective methods is to use of a bio-control agent called bacteriophage, which has shown good function in eliminating and reducing pathogens. In this study, a novel bacteriophage was isolated and identified from the slaughterhouse wastewater to control E. coli O157: H7. This bacteriophage belonged to the Myoviridae family. Two bacterial genera including E. coli and Salmonella, were allocated to determine the bacteriophage host range; the result showed that the anti- Salmonella effect of phage was low. The phage was stable at high temperature (80 °C) and caused an acceptable reduction in the E. coli O157: H7 (4.18 log CFU / mL for 10 h). The isolated bacteriophage was corroborated to be completely safe based on the whole genome sequencing and lack of any virulence factor from the host bacteria. Considering the characteristics of this phage and its function in vitro, this bacteriophage may be used as an effective bio-control agent in foods with the possible E. coli O157: H7 –induced contamination.