Shigellosis is one of the most important acute enteric infections caused by different species of Shigella, such as
Shigella flexneri. Despite the use of antibiotic therapy to reduce disease duration, this approach is becoming less effective
due to the emergence of antibiotic resistance among Shigella spp. Bacteriophages have been introduced as an alternative
for controlling shigellosis. However, the bacteriophages must be without any lysogenic or virulence factors, toxin coding,
or antibiotic-resistant genes. In this study, the whole genome sequence of vB_SflS-ISF001, a virulent Siphoviridae
bacteriophage specific for Shigella flexneri, was obtained, and a comparative genomic analysis was carried out to identify
its properties and safety. vB_SflS-ISF001 genomic DNA was measured at 50,552 bp with 78 deduced open reading frames
(ORFs), with 24 ORFs (30.77%) sharing similarities with proteins from the genomes of homologous phages that had been
reported earlier. Genetic analysis classifies it under the genus T1virus of the subfamily Tunavirinae. Moreover, comparative
genomic analysis revealed no undesirable genes in the genome of vB_SflS-ISF001, such as antibiotic resistance, virulence,
lysogeny, or toxin-coding genes. The results of this investigation indicate that vB_SflS-ISF001 is a new species, and confirm
its safety for the biocontrol of S. flexneri.