biostudies-literaturePiche LCNatural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of CanadaMAPAQMAPAQ (Innov'Action)448https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12057083biostudies-literatureUnknown26(1)<h4>Background</h4>Antibiotic resistance is a major issue affecting all spheres of human activity, including agriculture. One significant example is the Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC), a bacterium that infects poultry and leads to substantial economic losses in the farming industry. As antibiotics lose efficacity, bacteriophages (phages) -viruses that specifically target bacteria-are emerging as a promising alternative to antibiotics for treating and preventing bacterial infections. However, bacteria can develop resistance to phages through various mechanisms. Studying the coevolution between a phage and its host bacterium is important to gain insight into the phage's potential as a therapeutic agent. This study investigates the evolutionary responses of an APEC strain and a laboBMC genomicsEvolutionary responses of Escherichia coli to phage pressure: insights into mucoidy and colanic acid overexpression.PMC12057083RGPIN-2022-03321IA120638Letourneau-Montminy MPLabrie SJLague PPiche LCSaucier LVincent ATBories SDubar RLiato VPaquet VECharette SJfalseEvolutionary responses of Escherichia coli to phage pressure: insights into mucoidy and colanic acid overexpression.<h4>Background</h4>Antibiotic resistance is a major issue affecting all spheres of human activity, including agriculture. One significant example is the Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC), a bacterium that infects poultry and leads to substantial economic losses in the farming industry. As antibiotics lose efficacity, bacteriophages (phages) -viruses that specifically target bacteria-are emerging as a promising alternative to antibiotics for treating and preventing bacterial infections. However, bacteria can develop resistance to phages through various mechanisms. Studying the coevolution between a phage and its host bacterium is important to gain insight into the phage's potential as a therapeutic agent. This study investigates the evolutionary responses of an APEC strain and a labo2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 May2026-06-01T05:57:31.518Z2026-04-08T09:45:20.823ZS-EPMC120570834032917310.1186/s12864-025-11605-x