Characterization and application of a novel Campylobacter phage CC_R7 as a biocontrol agent in chicken meat

Campylobacter is a major foodborne pathogen, commonly transmitted through poultry. The emergence of multidrug-resistant strains due to antibiotic overuse in poultry farming highlights the need for monitoring resistance patterns and exploring alternative control strategies, such as bacteriophage application. This study examined the antimicrobial resistance patterns in Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) and Campylobacter coli (C. coli). Additionally, a novel lytic Campylobacter phage CC_R7 was isolated, characterized, and subjected to complete genomic analysis. The phage CC_R7 application was evaluated for biofilm removal under slaughterhouse conditions and as a biocontrol agent in chicken meat. The results showed that the resistance rate in C. coli was higher than in C. jejuni. The phage CC_R7 has a genome size of 180,566 bp, and no virulent gene was found. It has a broad host range, killing 60 % of C. coli and 27.2 % of C. jejuni tested strains with excellent adsorption, a short latent period of 40 min, and a high burst size of 119 virions. The phage remained stable across temperatures (4 °C-50 °C) and pH levels (4-10). Moreover, phage CC_R7 has the potential to inhibit biofilm formation and reduce Campylobacter contamination in chicken meat by 1.2 log/g. Therefore, Campylobacter phage CC_R7 has unique characteristics to combat multidrug-resistant Campylobacter strains and can be used as a feed additive for biocontrol in food.