## 1 Introduction  
The study of Mycobacteriaiophages has been a subject of intense research in the field of infectious diseases (e.g., [1]). The study of Mycobacteriaiophages has been a subject of intense research in the field of infectious diseases (e.g., [2]). The study of Mycobacteriaiophages has been a subject of intense research in the field of infectious diseases (e.g., [3]). The study of Mycobacteriaiophages has been a subject of intense research in the field  
## 1 Introduction  
Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide and the leading cause from a single infectious agent, ranking above HIV/AIDS. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Tuberculosis Report 2024, an estimated 10.8 million people fell ill with TB in 2023, with approximately 1.6 million deaths globally [1]. The burden of TB is disproportionately borne by low- and middle-income countries, with countries such as India, Indonesia, China, the Philippines, Pakistan, and Nigeria accounting for two-thirds of the global cases [1]. The emergence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) has exacerbated this public health crisis. MDR-TB, resistant to at least isoniazid and rifampicin, and XDR-TB, which further resists fluoroquinolones and injectable second-line drugs, present significant challenges to effective treatment, leading to increased mortality, longer treatment durations, and substantially higher costs [2]. The decline in the efficacy of anti-TB medications stems from several critical factors. Indiscriminate and inappropriate use of antibiotics in both community and clinical settings accelerates the development of resistance. Additionally, many patients fail to complete the full course of treatment due to drug toxicity, prolonged regimens, socioeconomic barriers, and limited access to healthcare, which promotes the selection of resistant mycobacterial strains [3]. Toxic side effects of second-line drugs, includingotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, and hepatotoxicity, further undermine adherence and treatment success [4,5]. The ongoing evolution of resistance mechanisms in _Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis)_ necessitates the urgent development of alternative or adjunctive therapies [6]. Beyond TB, non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections, collectively referred to as mycobacteria, are increasingly recognized as significant clinical challenges, particularly in immunocompromised populations but also among immunocompetent individuals [7,8]. NTM infections are caused by diverse environmental mycobacteria distinct from _M. tuberculosis_ and _M. leprae_, with an intrinsic resistance to many antibiotics and prolonged, often toxic treatment regimens [8,9]. The rising incidence of drug-resistant NTM infections further emphasizes the need for novel and effective treatment approaches [8]. Against this backdrop, bacteriophage therapy (phage therapy) has regained interest as a promising \"old-new\" strategy to combat drug-resistant mycobacterial diseases [10]. Phages are viruses that specifically infect and lyse bacterial cells and were originally explored as therapeutic agents in the early 20 th century before antibiotics became widespread [11]. Recent advances in molecular biology, genomics, and genetic engineering have revitalized this field, offering the potential for precise and effective bacterial targeting with minimal disruption of the host microbiota [12,13]. Recent advances in molecular biology and genetic engineering--such as BRED (bacteriophage recombineering of electroporated DNA), which enables precise genetic modifications in phage genomes, and CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)--Cas (CRISPR associated protein) systems used for sequence-specific genome editing, have greatly expanded the toolbox available for the creation of genetically modified bacteriophages.