Isolation and characterization of seven phages infecting gut Bacteroides

Despite the importance of the gut microbiota in human health, isolation and studies of phages infecting abundant gut bacteria have increased only in the past few years. The majority of phages isolated and characterized thus far infect facultative or strict aerobic bacteria. The aim of this study is to isolate and sequence new phages that infect Bacteroides species, which are abundant and prevalent members of the human gut microbiota across populations. Here, we report the isolation and genomes of seven phages infecting three human gut Bacteroides species from the United States. These phages are within the Caudoviricetes class and have siphovirus structural morphology. We observe a variable host range among five B. fragilis-infecting phages. This work provides resources to support further characterizations of gut-resident phages and their biology.