Broad-host-range Kayvirus phages preferentially infect Staphylocococcus aureus cells with β-glycosylated WTA, the most common bacterial form in the human host

Our results suggest that the majority of known virulent phages infecting S. aureus have evolved to maximize their chances of infecting this pathogen in the mammalian host. While this is good news from the perspective of phage therapy, the potential impact of altering the balance between phage and host by exposing cells to high doses of phages must be examined.