Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42687318›Full record

ArticleMicrobiologyOpen2026

Genomic and Phenotypic Characterization of Two Novel Enterobacter Phages With EDTA-Enhanced Antibiofilm Activity.

Kashif Haq, Zac Newland-Smith, Martin Figgit, David Lee, Kwabena Duedu

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in MicrobiologyOpen, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Kashif HaqDepartment of Life Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Birmingham City University, Birmingham, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4803-1768
Zac Newland-SmithDepartment of Life Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Birmingham City University, Birmingham, UK.
Martin FiggitDepartment of Life Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Birmingham City University, Birmingham, UK.
David LeeDepartment of Life Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Birmingham City University, Birmingham, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2395-351X
Kwabena DueduDepartment of Life Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Birmingham City University, Birmingham, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5816-5172

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Multidrug-resistant members of the Enterobacter cloacae complex (ECC) are increasingly linked to difficult-to-treat infections and biofilm-mediated antimicrobial tolerance. Here, two lytic phages, vB_EhoIP_HHH and vB_EluM_RZH, displaying podovirus-like and myovirus-like morphology, respectively, were isolated from the River Chelt. HHH has a 39,582 bp genome (51.2% GC, 63 ORFs), while RZH has a 174,197 bp genome (39.4% GC, 314 ORFs), with neither genome carrying antimicrobial resistance, virulence or lysogeny-associated genes. VIRIDIC and VICTOR analyses placed HHH within Kayfunavirus and RZH within Karamvirus, supporting their classification as distinct species. Both phages demonstrated rapid adsorption, short latent periods and stability across physiological pH and temperature ranges. A phage cocktail targeting MDR ECC strain was evaluated with EDTA against established biofilms. Crystal violet assays showed the greatest biomass reduction at MOI 10 with 0.5-0.75 mM EDTA. Bliss independence analysis revealed localized synergy within this window but significant overall antagonism at higher EDTA concentrations. CFU enumeration confirmed greater activity against 24 h than 48 h biofilms. The optimized combination also reduced recoverable bacteria in a fibroblast infection model while maintaining low LDH release. These findings identify two novel lytic Enterobacter phages and support a narrow EDTA concentration window for enhanced phage-mediated antibiofilm activity.

Indexed as

BacteriophagesBiofilmsEdetic AcidEnterobacter cloacaeGenome, ViralGenomicsHydrogen-Ion ConcentrationMyoviridaePhenotypePhylogenyEdetic Acid

Identifiers

PMID42687318
PMCPMC13538957

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.