Investigation of prevalence of free Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC)-specific bacteriophages and its correlation with STEC bacterial hosts in a produce-growing area in Salinas, California

A novel Shiga toxin 2a neutralizing antibody therapeutic with low immunogenicity and high efficacy

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli infections are difficult to treat due to the risk of antibiotic-induced stress upregulating the production of toxins, medical treatment is consequently limited to supportive care to prevent the development of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Here, we introduce a potentially therapeutic humanized mouse monoclonal antibody (Hu-mAb 2-5) targeting Stx2a, the most common Shiga toxin subtype identified from outbreaks. We demonstrate that Hu-mAb 2-5 has low immunogenicity in healthy adults ex vivo and high neutralizing efficacy in vivo, protecting mice from mortality and HUS-related tissue damage.

Characterization of polyvalent Escherichia phage Sa157lw for the biocontrol potential of Salmonella Typhimurium and Escherichia coli O157:H7 on contaminated mung bean seeds

Seeds are one of the primary sources of contamination with foodborne pathogens, such as pathogenic Escherichia coli, and various Salmonella serovars, for produce, particularly sprouts. Due to the susceptibility of sprout growth to chemical-based antimicrobials and the rising issue of antimicrobial resistance, developing innovative antimicrobial interventions is an urgent need. Therefore, the objective of this study was to characterize Escherichia phage Sa157lw (or Sa157lw) for the biocontrol potential of Salmonella Typhimurium and E. coli O157:H7 on contaminated mung bean seeds. Phage Sa157lw was subjected to whole-genome sequencing and biological characterization, including morphology, one-step growth curve, and stress stability tests. Later, antimicrobial activity was determined in vitro and upon application on the mung bean seeds artificially contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 or Salmonella Typhimurium. Sa157lw possessed a contractile tail and belonged to the Kuttervirus genus under the Ackermannviridae family, sharing a close evolutionary relationship with E. coli phage ECML-4 and Kuttervirus ViI; however, tail spike genes (ORF_102 and ORF_104) were the primary region of difference. Comparative genomics showed that Sa157lw encoded a cluster of tail spike genes—including ORF_101, ORF_102, and ORF_104—sharing high amino acid similarity with the counterfeits of various Salmonella phages. Additionally, Sa157lw harbored a unique tail fiber (ORF_103), possibly related to the receptors binding of O157 strains. The genomic evidence accounted for the polyvalent effects of Sa157lw against E. coli O157:H7 and various Salmonella serovars (Typhimurium, Enteritidis, Agona, Saintpaul, and Heidelberg). Furthermore, the phage did not contain any virulence, antibiotic-resistant, or lysogenic genes. Sa157lw had a 30-min latent period on both E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella Typhimurium, with an estimated burst size of 130 and 220 PFU/CFU, respectively, and was stable at a wide range of temperatures (4–60°C) and pH (pH4 to pH10). The phage application demonstrated a strong anti-E. coli O157:H7 and anti-Salmonella Typhimurium effects in 1.1 and 1.8 log reduction on the contaminated mung bean seeds after overnight storage at 22°C. These findings provide valuable insights into the polyvalent Sa157lw as a potential biocontrol agent of Salmonella Typhimurium and E. coli O157:H7 on sprout seeds.

Whole-Genome Analysis of Escherichia Phage vB_EcoM-S1P5QW, Isolated from Manures Collected from Cattle Farms in Maine

Here, we report a complete genome sequence of Escherichia phage vB_EcoM-S1P5QW, a T4-like bacteriophage that was isolated from manures collected from cattle farms in Maine. Escherichia phage vB_EcoM-S1P5QW can infect Escherichia coli O26:H11 strains and is devoid of virulence, antibiotic resistance, and lysogeny-associated genes, which may be meaningful for further biocontrol studies.

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.

Bacteriophages to control Shiga toxin-producing E. coli - safety and regulatory challenges

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are usually found on food products due to contamination from the fecal origin, as their main environmental reservoir is considered to be the gut of ruminants. While this pathogen is far from the incidence of other well-known foodborne bacteria, the severity of STEC infections in humans has triggered global concerns as far as its incidence and control are concerned. Major control strategies for foodborne pathogens in food-related settings usually involve traditional sterilization/disinfection techniques. However, there is an increasing need for the development of further strategies to enhance the antimicrobial outcome, either on food-contact surfaces or directly in food matrices. Phages are considered to be a good alternative to control foodborne pathogens, with some phage-based products already cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be used in the food industry. In European countries, phage-based food decontaminants have already been used. Nevertheless, its broad use in the European Union is not yet possible due to the lack of specific guidelines for the approval of these products. Furthermore, some safety concerns remain to be addressed so that the regulatory requirements can be met. In this review, we present an overview of the main virulence factors of STEC and introduce phages as promising biocontrol agents for STEC control. We further present the regulatory constraints on the approval of phages for food applications and discuss safety concerns that are still impairing their use.

Effects of lyophilization on the stability of bacteriophages against different serogroups of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli

Lyophilization is commonly used to effectively preserve the stability of bacteriophages (phages) in long-term storage. However, information regarding the lyophilization of phages specific to Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains is scarce. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of lyophilization with different cryoprotectants (sucrose and trehalose) and concentrations (0.1 M and 0.5 M) on the stability of seven lytic phages specific to STEC O157 and top 6 non-O157 strains during 6-month storage at -80 °C. The titers of lyophilized phages specific to STEC O26 (S1 O26) and STEC O121 (Pr121lvw) did not exhibit significant reduction after 6-month storage regardless of the use of cryoprotectants. Phages lytic against STEC O103 (Ro103C3lw) and STEC O145 (Ro145clw) with 0.1 M sucrose retained similar titers after lyophilization and frozen storage for 6 months (P > 0.05). Despite subtle differences, these results indicated that most of the selected phages had similar titer retention with the same cryoprotectants. Additionally, lytic activities of the phages against their primary hosts were not affected after lyophilization and 6-month frozen storage. Moreover, no detectable damage was observed on the lyophilized phage structures. These findings provide valuable insight into the use of lyophilization to preserve phages lytic against STEC strains.

Bacteriophages specific to Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli exist in goat feces and associated environments on an organic produce farm in Northern California, USA

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STECs) contamination of produce, as a result of contact with ruminant fecal material, has been associated with serious foodborne illness. Bacteriophages (phages) that infect STECs have primarily been reported to be of cattle origin. However, they likely exist in other environments or in animals that share habitats with cattle, such as goats. To explore the presence and diversity of phages specific to STEC O157 and the top six non-O157 STECs in goat-associated environments, environmental samples consisting of feces (goat and cattle) and soil samples were collected monthly for six months from an organic produce farm. A variety of phages belonging to the Myoviridae, Siphoviridae, and Podoviridae families were isolated from all goat fecal and half of the soil samples. The most commonly isolated phages belonged to Myoviridae and were lytic against STEC O103. The isolated phages had different host ranges, but collectively, showed lytic activity against O157 and the top six non-O157 STEC strains excluding O121. Two non-O157 STECs (O174: H21 and O-antigen-negative: H18) were isolated from soil and cattle feces, respectively. Although prior studies have reported that goats shed STEC into the environment, the findings of the current study suggest that goat feces may also contain lytic STEC-specific phages. The phages of goat origin have the capacity to infect STECs implicated in causing foodborne outbreaks, making them potential candidates for biocontrol pending additional characterization steps. Further work is needed to determine if the addition of goats to the farm environment could potentially reduce the presence of STECs.

Characterization of Non-O157 STEC Infecting Bacteriophages Isolated from Cattle Faeces in North-West South Africa

Non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) E. coli are emerging pathotypes that are frequently associated with diseases in humans around the world. The consequences of these serogroups for public health is a concern given the lack of effective prevention and treatment measures. In this study, ten bacteriophages (phages; SA20RB, SA79RD, SA126VB, SA30RD, SA32RD, SA35RD, SA21RB, SA80RD, SA12KD and SA91KD) isolated from cattle faeces collected in the North-West of South Africa were characterized. Activity of these phages against non-O157 STEC isolates served as hosts for these phages. All of the phages except SA80RD displayed lytic against non-O157 E. coli isolates. Of 22 non-O157 E. coli isolates, 14 were sensitive to 9 of the 10 phages tested. Phage SA35RD was able to lyse 13 isolates representing a diverse group of non-O157 E. coli serotypes including a novel O-antigen Shiga toxigenic (wzx-Onovel5:H19) strain. However, non-O157 E. coli serotypes O76:H34, O99:H9, O129:H23 and O136:H30 were insensitive to all phages. Based on transmission electron microscopy, the non-O157 STEC phages were placed into Myoviridae (n = 5) and Siphoviridae (n = 5). Genome of the phage ranged from 44 to 184.3 kb. All but three phages (SA91KD, SA80RD and SA126VB) were insensitive to EcoRI-HF and HindIII nucleases. This is the first study illustrating that cattle from North-West South Africa harbour phages with lytic potentials that could potentially be exploited for biocontrol against a diverse group of non-O157 STEC isolated from the same region.

Complete Genome Sequence of Escherichia coli Phage vB_EcoM Sa157lw, Isolated from Surface Water Collected in Salinas, California

Here, we report the complete genome sequence of a new member of Vi1-like phages, Escherichia coli phage vB_EcoM Sa157lw, isolated from surface water collected near a produce-growing area in California. This phage does not harbor stx or other lysogeny-associated genes and therefore may have biocontrol application potential.

Here, we report the complete genome sequence of a new member of Vi1-like phages, Escherichia coli phage vB_EcoM Sa157lw, isolated from surface water collected near a produce-growing area in California. This phage does not harbor stx or other lysogeny-associated genes and therefore may have biocontrol application potential.

Genome Sequence of a T4-like Phage, Escherichia Phage vB_EcoM-Sa45lw, Infecting Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli Strains

Escherichia phage vB_EcoM-Sa45lw, a new member of the T4-like phages, was isolated from surface water in a produce-growing area. The phage, containing double-stranded DNA with a genome size of 167,353 bp and 282 predicted open reading frames (ORFs), is able to infect generic Escherichia coli and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O45 and O157 strains.

Escherichia phage vB_EcoM-Sa45lw, a new member of the T4-like phages, was isolated from surface water in a produce-growing area. The phage, containing double-stranded DNA with a genome size of 167,353 bp and 282 predicted open reading frames (ORFs), is able to infect generic Escherichia coli and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O45 and O157 strains.

Characterization of a Lytic Bacteriophage as an Antimicrobial Agent for Biocontrol of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli O145 Strains

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O145 is one of the most prevalent non-O157 serogroups associated with foodborne outbreaks. Lytic phages are a potential alternative to antibiotics in combatting bacterial pathogens. In this study, we characterized a Siphoviridae phage lytic against STEC O145 strains as a novel antimicrobial agent. Escherichia phage vB_EcoS-Ro145clw (Ro145clw) was isolated and purified prior to physiological and genomic characterization. Then, in vitro antimicrobial activity against an outbreak strain, E. coli O145:H28, was evaluated. Ro145clw is a double-stranded DNA phage with a genome 42,031 bp in length. Of the 67 genes identified in the genome, 21 were annotated with functional proteins, none of which were stx genes. Ro145clw had a latent period of 21 min and a burst size of 192 phages per infected cell. The phage could sustain a wide range of pH (pH 3 to pH 10) and temperatures (−80 °C to −73 °C). Ro145clw was able to reduce E. coli O145:H28 in lysogeny broth by approximately 5 log at 37 °C in four hours. These findings indicate that the Ro145clw phage is a promising antimicrobial agent that can be used to control E. coli O145 in adverse pH and temperature conditions.

Application of lab-on-a-chip multiplex cassette PCR for the detection of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli

Background

Fast molecular detection methods benefit from ready-to-run lab-on-a-chip molecular assays with minimum preparation time. Detection efficiency of such methods can improve if multiple targets are detected simultaneously per given reaction. Detection of food pathogens, i.e. Escherichia coli (E. coli), is generally performed in two stages with the detection of multiple targets in each stage.With simultaneous testing, screening for pathogens is fast and efficient.

Results

In this study, we show the application of multiplex PCR performed on a ready-made cassette to detect 10 targets each for eight samples known to harbor E. coli. In cassette PCR, the aluminum cassette (38.6 mm × 31.4 mm) contains 10 trenches having a total of 50 capillaries with microliter volumes of desiccated acrylamide gels holding all reagents required for the PCR including internal positive and negative controls. The gel contains LCGreen dye to detect double stranded DNA. Fluorescence monitoring allows the detection of the amplified products by melt curve analysis. In this application, each of the five capillaries in a given trench contains two of the primer sets for the detection of 10 targets in pathogenic E. coli, namely, O157, Eae, Stx1, Stx2 and six O-antigen genes. Primer specificity was confirmed. Each trench tests one sample. Eight minimally processed enriched beef carcass swab samples were analyzed for parallel detection of 10 targets within 1 h and 15 min. Samples were delivered to the capillaries by capillary forces thereby hydrating the gels. Multiplex cassette PCR results were confirmed with conventional multiplex PCRs performed in a commercial real-time PCR system.

Conclusions

Cassette PCR technology is ideally suited to multi-target detection of pathogens in food products. The cassette performs multiple PCR reactions in parallel, with multiplex detection of targets within each reaction unit. Cassette PCR/ melt curve analysis results for the simultaneous detection of 10 targets of pathogenic E.coli in beef carcass swab samples were confirmed with a conventional real-time PCR/ melt curve analysis as well as with agarose gel electrophoresis. Although designed for the detection of E. coli, this multiplex cassette PCR technique can be applied to any other assay where the fast detection of multiple targets is required.

Prevalence of Shiga-toxigenic and atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli in untreated surface water and reclaimed water in the Mid-Atlantic U.S

The microbial quality of irrigation water has increasingly become a concern as a source of contamination for fruits and vegetables. Non-traditional sources of water are being used by more and more growers in smaller, highly diversified farms in the Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. Shiga-toxigenic E. coli (STEC) have been responsible for several outbreaks of infections associated with the consumption of leafy greens. Our study evaluated the prevalence of the "big seven" STEC serogroups and the associated enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) virulence factors (VF) genes in conventional and nontraditional irrigation waters in the Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. Water samples (n = 510) from 170 sampling events were collected from eight untreated surface water sites, two wastewater reclamation facilities, and one vegetable processing plant, over a 12-month period. Ten liters of water were filtered through Modified Moore swabs (MMS); swabs were then enriched into Universal Pre-enrichment Broth (UPB), followed by enrichment into non-O157 STEC R&F broth and isolation on R & F non-O157 STEC chromogenic plating medium. Isolates (n = 2489) from enriched MMS from water samples were screened for frequently reported STEC serogroups that cause foodborne illness: O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, O145, and O157, along with VF genes stx1, stx2, eae, and ehxA. Through this screening process, STEC isolates were found in 2.35% (12/510) of water samples, while 9.0% (46/510) contained an atypical enteropathogenic E. coli (aEPEC) isolate. The eae gene (n = 88 isolates) was the most frequently detected EHEC VF of the isolates screened. The majority of STEC isolates (stx1 or stx2) genes mainly came from either a pond or reclamation pond water site on two specific dates, potentially indicating that these isolates were not spatially or temporally distributed among the sampling sites. STEC isolates at reclaimed water sites may have been introduced after wastewater treatment. None of the isolates containing eae were determined to be Escherichia albertii. Our work showed that STEC prevalence in Mid-Atlantic untreated surface waters over a 12-month period was lower than the prevalence of atypical EPEC.

Discovery of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli (STEC)-Specific Bacteriophages From Non-fecal Composts Using Genomic Characterization

Composting is a complex biodegradable process that converts organic materials into nutrients to facilitate crop yields, and, if well managed, can render bactericidal effects. Majority of research focused on detection of enteric pathogens, such as Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in fecal composts. Recently, attention has been emphasized on bacteriophages, such as STEC-specific bacteriophages, associated with STEC from the fecal-contaminated environment because they are able to sustain adverse environmental condition during composting process. However, little is known regarding the isolation of STEC-specific bacteriophages in non-fecal composts. Thus, the objectives were to isolate and genomically characterize STEC-specific bacteriophages, and to evaluate its association with STEC in non-fecal composts. For bacteriophage isolation, the samples were enriched with non-pathogenic E. coli (3 strains) and STEC (14 strains), respectively. After purification, host range, plaque size, and phage morphology were examined. Furthermore, bacteriophage genomes were subjected to whole-genome sequencing using Illumina MiSeq and genomic analyses. Isolation of top six non-O157 and O157 STEC utilizing culture methods combined with PCR-based confirmation was also conducted. The results showed that various STEC-specific bacteriophages, including vB_EcoM-Ro111lw, vB_EcoM-Ro121lw, vB_EcoS-Ro145lw, and vB_EcoM-Ro157lw, with different but complementary host ranges were isolated. Genomic analysis showed the genome sizes varied from 42kb to 149kb, and most bacteriophages were unclassified at the genus level, except vB_EcoM-Ro111lw as FelixO1-like viruses. Prokka predicted less than 25% of the ORFs coded for known functions, including those essential for DNA replication, bacteriophage structure, and host cell lysis. Moreover, none of the bacteriophages harbored lysogenic genes or virulence genes, such as stx or eae. Additionally, the presence of these lytic bacteriophages was likely attributed to zero isolation of STEC and could also contribute to additional antimicrobial effects in composts, if the composting process was insufficient. Current findings indicate that various STEC-specific bacteriophages were found in the non-fecal composts. In addition, the genomic characterization provides in-depth information to complement the deficiency of biological features regarding lytic cycle of the new bacteriophages. Most importantly, these bacteriophages have great potential to control various serogroups of STEC.

Complete Genome Sequence of a Lytic T7-Like Phage, Escherichia Phage vB_EcoP-Ro45lw, Isolated from Nonfecal Compost Samples

Although isolation of the bacteriophages (phages) specific to Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is increasing, the number of those specific to STEC non-O157 strains, instead of STEC O157, with whole-genome sequencing characterization is relatively low. Here, we announce the complete genome sequence of a T7-like lytic phage against STEC O45.

Although isolation of the bacteriophages (phages) specific to Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is increasing, the number of those specific to STEC non-O157 strains, instead of STEC O157, with whole-genome sequencing characterization is relatively low. Here, we announce the complete genome sequence of a T7-like lytic phage against STEC O45.

Complete Genome Sequence of Escherichia Phage vB_EcoM-Pr121LW, Isolated from Soil in an Organic Farm

Here, we report a new member of rV5-like phages, Escherichia phage vB_EcoM-Pr121LW, isolated from soil samples and lytic against different serogroups of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains. With molecular properties that contain no antibiotic resistance, virulence, or lysogenic genes, this phage is a potential biocontrol agent against STEC.

Here, we report a new member of rV5-like phages, Escherichia phage vB_EcoM-Pr121LW, isolated from soil samples and lytic against different serogroups of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains. With molecular properties that contain no antibiotic resistance, virulence, or lysogenic genes, this phage is a potential biocontrol agent against STEC.

Variability in Characterizing Escherichia coli from Cattle Feces: A Cautionary Tale

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are diverse bacteria, with seven serogroups (O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, O145, O157; "Top 7") of interest due to their predominance in human disease. Confirmation of STEC relies on a combination of culturing, immunological and molecular assays, but no single gold standard for identification exists. In this study, we compared analysis of STEC between three independent laboratories (LAB) using different methodologies. In LAB A, colonies of Top 7 were picked after serogroup-specific immunomagnetic separation of feces from western-Canadian slaughter cattle. A fraction of each colony was tested by PCR (stx1, stx2, eae, O group), and Top 7 isolates were saved as glycerol stocks (n = 689). In LAB B, a subsample of isolates (n = 171) were evaluated for stx1 and stx2 using different primer sets. For this, approximately half of the PCR were performed using original DNA template provided by LAB A and half using DNA extracted from sub-cultured isolates. All Top 7 isolates were sub-cultured by LAB A and shipped to LAB C for traditional serotyping (TS) to determine O and H groups, with PCR-confirmation of virulence genes using a third set of primers. By TS, 76% of O groups (525/689) matched PCR-determined O groups. Lowest proportions (p < 0.05) of O group matches between PCR and TS (62.6% and 69.8%) occurred for O26 and O45 serogroups, respectively. PCR-detection of stx differed most between LAB A and LAB C. Excluding isolates where O groups by PCR and TS did not match, detection of stx1 was most consistent (p < 0.01) for O111 and O157:H7/NM. In contrast, for O45 and O103, stx1 was detected in >65% of isolates by LAB A and <5% by LAB C. Stx2 was only detected by LAB C in isolates of serogroups O121, O145, and O157:H7/NM. LAB B also detected stx2 in O26 and O157:H12/H29, while LAB A detected stx2 in all serogroups. Excluding O111 and O157:H7/NM, marked changes in stx detection were observed between initial isolation and sub-cultures of the same isolate. While multiple explanations exist for discordant O-typing between PCR and TS and for differences in stx detection across labs, these data suggest that assays for STEC classification may require re-evaluation and/or standardization.

Complete Genome Sequence of Escherichia coli Phage vB_EcoS Sa179lw, Isolated from Surface Water in a Produce-Growing Area in Northern California

We report here the whole-genome sequence of a novel Escherichia coli phage, vB_EcoS Sa179lw, isolated from surface water collected in a produce-growing area. With the presence of a putative eae-like gene that was associated with previous non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli outbreaks, this phage is a candidate for the study of virulence gene transfer.