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Updated: Feb 28, 2026
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Hybrid De Novo Genome Assembly for the Generation of Complete Genomes of Urinary Bacteria using Short- and Long-read Sequencing Technologies
Published on: August 20, 2021
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Diverse Temperate Coliphages of the Urinary Tract
Haley Atkins1, Natalie Stegman1, Catherine Putonti1,2
1Bioinformatics Program, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL 60660, USA.
Viruses
|February 27, 2026
Summary
Researchers isolated and characterized 20 temperate phages from urinary Escherichia coli strains. This study provides crucial insights into the diversity and genomic makeup of these phages, which may influence E. coli populations in the urinary tract.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Virology
- Genomics
Background:
- Escherichia coli (E. coli) presence in the female urinary tract is linked to urinary tract infections (UTIs).
- Prophages significantly influence the genomic plasticity of E. coli, including urogenital strains.
- Many prophages in the urinary microbiome remain uncharacterized, though sequence analysis suggests they are temperate phages.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and characterize temperate phages from urinary E. coli strains.
- To assess the host range of these phages against a panel of urinary isolates.
- To understand the diversity, infectivity, and genomic composition of temperate coliphages from the female urinary tract.
Main Methods:
- Isolation of temperate phages from urinary E. coli.
- Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for phage morphology.
- Whole-genome sequencing for genic content analysis.
- Phage host range assessment across urinary isolates.
Main Results:
- Twenty temperate urinary phages were successfully isolated and evaluated.
- Phage morphology and genomic content were determined.
- Host range data was collected for future investigations.
Conclusions:
- This study characterizes temperate coliphages from the female urinary tract, filling a gap in knowledge.
- The findings offer insights into phage diversity and infectivity within the urinary microbiome.
- This work lays the foundation for exploring the role of these phages in shaping E. coli populations.
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