[Research progress in phage therapy against enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli infection in animals]

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is a major causative agent of animal diarrhea, severely constraining the sustainable development of animal husbandry and endangering food safety and human health. Driven by the worsening antibiotic resistance crisis and the policy implementation of antibiotic reduction and replacement, phages have attracted extensive attention as novel antibacterial candidates. With prominent strengths including rapid bactericidal action, strict host specificity, no disturbance to intestinal microflora, and no drug residues, phages exhibit promising prospects for antibacterial development. This review summarizes the pathogenic mechanisms of ETEC and research progress in the antibacterial applications of ETEC phages, with a focus on the clinical effects of phage intervention against diarrhea in piglets, calves, and lambs. Furthermore, it outlines the research progress in the application of phages in animal-derived food preservation and bacterial biofilm elimination. Additionally, this paper delves into the co-evolutionary infection-defense mechanism between phages and bacteria, aiming to offer a reference for the clinical translation and application of ETEC phage therapy.