Enhanced Suppression of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia by a Three-Phage Cocktail: Genomic Insights and Kinetic Profiling.

(STM). Our findings contribute novel phages, their lytic characteristics, and limitations when exposed to an array of clinically relevant STM strains. Eighteen bacteriophages were isolated from wastewater influent from Escondido, California, and subjected to genomic analysis. We investigated genetically distinct phages to establish their infection kinetics and developed them into a phage cocktail. Our findings suggest that a genetically distinct STM phage cocktail provides an effective strategy for bacterial suppression of host strain B28B and five other clinically relevant STM strains. Phage therapy against STM remains poorly understood, as only 39 phages have been previously isolated. Future research into the underlying mechanism of how phage cocktails overwhelm the host bacteria will provide essential information that could aid in optimizing phage applications and impact alternative treatment options.