The morphology of the STEC-specific phages isolated from Salinas area.

<p>(A) O157-specific bacteriophage, (B) O145-specific bacteriophage, (C) O45-specific bacteriophage, (D) O179-specific bacteriophage.</p

Samples with positive of STEC-specific phages and STEC strains throughout sampling period displayed by sample month.

<p>Samples with positive of STEC-specific phages and STEC strains throughout sampling period displayed by sample month.</p

Shiga toxin-producing <i>E</i>. <i>coli</i> (STEC) strains isolated from different sources by U.S. Department of Agriculture ARS used for free STEC-specific phage isolation.

<p>Shiga toxin-producing <i>E</i>. <i>coli</i> (STEC) strains isolated from different sources by U.S. Department of Agriculture ARS used for free STEC-specific phage isolation.</p

Geographical location of the watershed sites where the samples were collected in the area of Salinas Valley.

<p>Sample sites are labeled with a six-letter acronym in black type (locations with agriculture impact) or red type (locations with human impact). Insert is an expanded view of the area near the city of Salinas.</p

Effect of the environmental factors, rain precipitation and solar radiation, on the isolation of free STEC-specific phages from the overall sample sites.

<p>Effect of the environmental factors, rain precipitation and solar radiation, on the isolation of free STEC-specific phages from the overall sample sites.</p

Summary of phage and STEC isolation data from water samples collected from Salinas, CA.

<p>The acronym is used for each sample site with the number of water samples collected. Red oval shape with red letter indicates isolation of STEC-specific phage, and green rectangular shape with green letters indicates STEC bacterial isolation.</p