Phage Banzai: Genomic and Functional Analysis of Novel with Lytic Activity Against .

Antibiotic-resistant presents a critical global health challenge, particularly in hospital-acquired infections. Bacteriophages offer a promising therapeutic avenue due to their ability to target and lyse resistant strains. This study characterizes phage Banzai, a newly isolated (family ) with lytic activity against multiple isolates, including multidrug-resistant strains. Genomic analysis revealed a 66,189 bp genome, lacking antibiotic resistance or virulence factors, and suggested a headful packaging mechanism and the presence of a bidirectional component in the replication. In vivo experiments using showed therapeutic potential, significantly improving larval survival (87% at 24 h). Host range analysis revealed activity against 13 of 30 isolates, including members of O1, O3, O5 and O6 in silico predicted serogroups. Phylogenomic analyses place phage Banzai within the genus , sharing 94.8% intergenomic similarity with its closest relatives, supporting its classification as a novel species. These findings highlight phage Banzai as a potential candidate for phage therapy, demonstrating genomic stability, a strictly lytic lifestyle, and in vivo efficacy.