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Khazani Asforooshani M, Elikaei A, Abed S, Shafiei M, Barzi SM, Solgi H, Badmasti F, Sohrabi A. A novel Enterococcus faecium phage EF-M80: unveiling the effects of hydrogel-encapsulated phage on wound infection healing. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1416971. [PMID: 39006751 PMCID: PMC11239553 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1416971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Enterococcus faecium is one of the members of ESKAPE pathogens. Due to its resistance to antimicrobial agents, treating this bacterium has become challenging. The development of innovative approaches to combat antibiotic resistance is necessary. Phage therapy has emerged as a promising method for curing antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Methods In this study, E. faecium phages were isolated from wastewater. Phage properties were characterized through in vitro assays (e.g. morphological studies, and physicochemical properties). In addition, whole genome sequencing was performed. A hydrogel-based encapsulated phage was obtained and its structure characteristics were evaluated. Wound healing activity of the hydrogel-based phage was assessed in a wound mice model. Results The purified phage showed remarkable properties including broad host range, tolerance to high temperature and pH and biofilm degradation feature as a stable and reliable therapeutic agent. Whole genome sequencing revealed that the genome of the EF-M80 phage had a length of 40,434 bp and harbored 65 open reading frames (ORFs) with a GC content of 34.9% (GenBank accession number is OR767211). Hydrogel-based encapsulated phage represented an optimized structure. Phage-loaded hydrogel-treated mice showed that the counting of neutrophils, fibroblasts, blood vessels, hair follicles and percentage of collagen growth were in favor of the wound healing process in the mice model. Conclusion These findings collectively suggest the promising capability of this phage-based therapeutic strategy for the treatment of infections associated with the antibiotic-resistant E. faecium. In the near future, we hope to expect the presence of bacteriophages in the list of antibacterial compounds used in the clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahshid Khazani Asforooshani
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Bacteriology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ameneh Elikaei
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sahar Abed
- Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Faculty of Basic Sciences and Advanced Technologies in Biology, University of Science and Culture, Tehran, Iran
| | - Morvarid Shafiei
- Department of Bacteriology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Hamid Solgi
- Isfahan Endocrine and Metabolism Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Farzad Badmasti
- Department of Bacteriology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Aria Sohrabi
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Research Center for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
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2
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Li S, Xu M, Yang D, Yang M, Wu H, Li X, Yang C, Fang Z, Wu Q, Tan L, Xiao W, Weng Q. Characterization and genomic analysis of a lytic Stenotrophomonas maltophilia short-tailed phage A1432 revealed a new genus of the family Mesyanzhinovviridae. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1400700. [PMID: 38993489 PMCID: PMC11236537 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1400700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (S. maltophilia) is an emerging opportunistic pathogen that exhibits resistant to a majority of commonly used antibiotics. Phages have the potential to serve as an alternative treatment for S. maltophilia infections. In this study, a lytic phage, A1432, infecting S. maltophilia YCR3A-1, was isolated and characterized from a karst cave. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that phage A1432 possesses an icosahedral head and a shorter tail. Phage A1432 demonstrated a narrow host range, with an optimal multiplicity of infection of 0.1. The one-step growth curve indicated a latent time of 10 min, a lysis period of 90 min, a burst size of 43.2 plaque-forming units per cell. In vitro bacteriolytic activity test showed that phage A1432 was capable to inhibit the growth of S. maltophilia YCR3A-1 in an MOI-dependent manner after 2 h of co-culture. BLASTn analysis showed that phage A1432 genome shares the highest similarity (81.46%) with Xanthomonas phage Xoo-sp2 in the NCBI database, while the query coverage was only 37%. The phage contains double-stranded DNA with a genome length of 61,660 bp and a GC content of 61.92%. It is predicted to have 79 open reading frames and one tRNA, with no virulence or antibiotic resistance genes. Phylogenetic analysis using terminase large subunit and DNA polymerase indicated that phage A1432 clustered with members of the Bradleyvirinae subfamily but diverged into a distinct branch. Further phylogenetic comparison analysis using Average Nucleotide Identity, proteomic phylogenetic analysis, genomic network analysis confirmed that phage A1432 belongs to a novel genus within the Bradleyvirinae subfamily, Mesyanzhinovviridae family. Additionally, phylogenetic analysis of the so far isolated S. maltophilia phages revealed significant genetic diversity among these phages. The results of this research will contribute valuable information for further studies on their morphological and genetic diversity, will aid in elucidating the evolutionary mechanisms that give rise to them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shixia Li
- School of Life Sciences, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, China
| | - Man Xu
- School of Life Sciences, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, China
| | - Deying Yang
- School of Life Sciences, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, China
| | - Mei Yang
- School of Life Sciences, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, China
| | - Hejing Wu
- School of Life Sciences, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, China
| | - Xuelian Li
- School of Life Sciences, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, China
| | - Changzhou Yang
- School of Life Sciences, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, China
| | - Zheng Fang
- School of Life Sciences, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, China
| | - Qingshan Wu
- School of Life Sciences, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, China
| | - Leitao Tan
- School of Life Sciences, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, China
| | - Wei Xiao
- Yunnan Institute of Microbiology, Yunnan International Joint Laboratory of Virology and Immunology, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Qingbei Weng
- School of Life Sciences, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, China
- Qiannan Normal University for Nationalities, Duyun, China
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3
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Fontana F, Longhi G, Carli E, Alessandri G, Mancabelli L, Lugli GA, Tarracchini C, Viappiani A, Anzalone R, Turroni F, Milani C, Ventura M. Revealing the genetic traits of the foodborne microbial genus hafnia: Implications for the human gut microbiome. Environ Microbiol 2024; 26:e16626. [PMID: 38646847 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
The bacterial genus Hafnia has recently attracted attention due to its complex metabolic features and host-interaction capabilities, which are associated with health benefits, primarily weight loss. However, significant gaps remain in our understanding of the genomic characteristics of this emerging microbial group. In this study, we utilized all available high-quality genomes of Hafnia alvei and Hafnia paralvei to uncover the broad distribution of Hafnia in human and honeybee guts, as well as in dairy products, by analysing 1068 metagenomic datasets. We then investigated the genetic traits related to Hafnia's production of vitamins and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) through a comparative genomics analysis that included all dominant bacterial species in the three environments under study. Our findings underscore the extensive metabolic capabilities of Hafnia, particularly in the production of vitamins such as thiamine (B1), nicotinate (B3), pyridoxine (B6), biotin (B7), folate (B9), cobalamin (B12), and menaquinone (K2). Additionally, Hafnia demonstrated a conserved genetic makeup associated with SCFA production, including acetate, propanoate, and butanoate. These metabolic traits were further confirmed using RNAseq analyses of a newly isolated H. paralvei strain T10. Overall, our study illuminates the ecological distribution and genetic attributes of this bacterial genus, which is of increasing scientific and industrial relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Fontana
- Laboratory of Probiogenomics, Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences, and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
- GenProbio Srl, Parma, Italy
| | - Giulia Longhi
- Laboratory of Probiogenomics, Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences, and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Elisa Carli
- Laboratory of Probiogenomics, Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences, and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Giulia Alessandri
- Laboratory of Probiogenomics, Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences, and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | | | - Gabriele Andrea Lugli
- Laboratory of Probiogenomics, Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences, and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Chiara Tarracchini
- Laboratory of Probiogenomics, Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences, and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | | | | | - Francesca Turroni
- Laboratory of Probiogenomics, Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences, and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
- Microbiome Research Hub, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Christian Milani
- Laboratory of Probiogenomics, Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences, and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
- Microbiome Research Hub, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Marco Ventura
- Laboratory of Probiogenomics, Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences, and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
- Microbiome Research Hub, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
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4
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Fogg PCM. Gene transfer agents: The ambiguous role of selfless viruses in genetic exchange and bacterial evolution. Mol Microbiol 2024. [PMID: 38511257 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.15251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Gene transfer agents (GTAs) are genetic elements derived from ancestral bacteriophages that have become domesticated by the host. GTAs are present in diverse prokaryotic organisms, where they can facilitate horizontal gene transfer under certain conditions. Unlike typical bacteriophages, GTAs do not exhibit any preference for the replication or transfer of the genes encoding them; instead, they exhibit a remarkable capacity to package chromosomal, and sometimes extrachromosomal, DNA into virus-like capsids and disseminate it to neighboring cells. Because GTAs resemble defective prophages, identification of novel GTAs is not trivial. The detection of candidates relies on the genetic similarity to known GTAs, which has been fruitful in α-proteobacterial lineages but challenging in more distant bacteria. Here we consider several fundamental questions: What is the true prevalence of GTAs in prokaryote genomes? Given there are high costs for GTA production, what advantage do GTAs provide to the bacterial host to justify their maintenance? How is the bacterial chromosome recognized and processed for inclusion in GTA particles? This article highlights the challenges in comprehensively understanding GTAs' prevalence, function and DNA packaging method. Going forward, broad study of atypical GTAs and use of ecologically relevant conditions are required to uncover their true impact on bacterial chromosome evolution.
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5
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Cernooka E, Dislers A, Kazaks A. Revisiting host identification of bacteriophage Enc34: from biochemical to molecular. J Virol 2024; 98:e0173123. [PMID: 38329345 PMCID: PMC10949441 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01731-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
In our 2012 genome announcement (J Virol 86:11403-11404, 2012, https://doi.org/10.1128/JVI.01954-12), we initially identified the host bacterium of bacteriophage Enc34 as Enterobacter cancerogenus using biochemical tests. However, later in-house DNA sequencing revealed that the true host is a strain of Hafnia alvei. Capitalizing on our new DNA-sequencing capabilities, we also refined the genomic termini of Enc34, confirming a 60,496-bp genome with 12-nucleotide 5' cohesive ends. IMPORTANCE Our correction reflects the evolving landscape of bacterial identification, where molecular methods have supplanted traditional biochemical tests. This case underscores the significance of revisiting past identifications, as seemingly known bacterial strains may yield unexpected discoveries, necessitating essential updates to the scientific record. Despite the host identity correction, our genome announcement retains importance as the first complete genome sequence of a Hafnia alvei bacteriophage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elina Cernooka
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
| | - Andris Dislers
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
| | - Andris Kazaks
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
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6
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Li Y, Yun H, Chen R, Jiao N, Zheng Q, Yang Y, Zhang R. Characterization of a Vibriophage Infecting Pathogenic Vibrio harveyi. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16202. [PMID: 38003392 PMCID: PMC10671443 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242216202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2023] [Revised: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial diseases caused by Vibrio spp. are prevalent in aquaculture and can lead to high mortality rates among aquatic species and significant economic losses. With the increasing emergence of multidrug-resistant Vibrio strains, phage therapy is being explored as a potential alternative to antibiotics for biocontrol of infectious diseases. Here, a new lytic phage named vB_VhaS_R21Y (R21Y) was isolated against Vibrio harveyi BVH1 obtained from seawater from a scallop-farming area in Rongcheng, China. Its morphology, infection cycle, lytic profile, phage stability, and genetic features were characterized. Transmission electronic microscopy indicated that R21Y is siphovirus-like, comprising an icosahedral head (diameter 73.31 ± 2.09 nm) and long noncontractile tail (205.55 ± 0.75 nm). In a one-step growth experiment, R21Y had a 40-min latent period and a burst size of 35 phage particles per infected cell. R21Y was highly species-specific in the host range test and was relatively stable at pH 4-10 and 4-55 °C. Genomic analysis showed that R21Y is a double-stranded DNA virus with a genome size of 82,795 bp and GC content of 47.48%. Its high tolerance and lytic activity indicated that R21Y may be a candidate for phage therapy in controlling vibriosis in aquacultural systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingying Li
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China; (Y.L.); (H.Y.); (R.C.); (N.J.); (Q.Z.)
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518061, China
| | - Huayi Yun
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China; (Y.L.); (H.Y.); (R.C.); (N.J.); (Q.Z.)
| | - Ruo Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China; (Y.L.); (H.Y.); (R.C.); (N.J.); (Q.Z.)
- Marine Biological Section, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, 3000 Helsingør, Denmark
| | - Nianzhi Jiao
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China; (Y.L.); (H.Y.); (R.C.); (N.J.); (Q.Z.)
| | - Qiang Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China; (Y.L.); (H.Y.); (R.C.); (N.J.); (Q.Z.)
| | - Yunlan Yang
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518061, China
| | - Rui Zhang
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518061, China
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7
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Zhao X, Sun C, Jin M, Chen J, Xing L, Yan J, Wang H, Liu Z, Chen WH. Enrichment Culture but Not Metagenomic Sequencing Identified a Highly Prevalent Phage Infecting Lactiplantibacillus plantarum in Human Feces. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0434022. [PMID: 36995238 PMCID: PMC10269749 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.04340-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (previously known as Lactobacillus plantarum) is increasingly used as a probiotic to treat human diseases, but its phages in the human gut remain unexplored. Here, we report its first gut phage, Gut-P1, which we systematically screened using metagenomic sequencing, virus-like particle (VLP) sequencing, and enrichment culture from 35 fecal samples. Gut-P1 is virulent, belongs to the Douglaswolinvirus genus, and is highly prevalent in the gut (~11% prevalence); it has a genome of 79,928 bp consisting of 125 protein coding genes and displaying low sequence similarities to public L. plantarum phages. Physiochemical characterization shows that it has a short latent period and adapts to broad ranges of temperatures and pHs. Furthermore, Gut-P1 strongly inhibits the growth of L. plantarum strains at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 1e-6. Together, these results indicate that Gut-P1 can greatly impede the application of L. plantarum in humans. Strikingly, Gut-P1 was identified only in the enrichment culture, not in our metagenomic or VLP sequencing data nor in any public human phage databases, indicating the inefficiency of bulk sequencing in recovering low-abundance but highly prevalent phages and pointing to the unexplored hidden diversity of the human gut virome despite recent large-scale sequencing and bioinformatics efforts. IMPORTANCE As Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (previously known as Lactobacillus plantarum) is increasingly used as a probiotic to treat human gut-related diseases, its bacteriophages may pose a certain threat to their further application and should be identified and characterized more often from the human intestine. Here, we isolated and identified the first gut L. plantarum phage that is prevalent in a Chinese population. This phage, Gut-P1, is virulent and can strongly inhibit the growth of multiple L. plantarum strains at low MOIs. Our results also show that bulk sequencing is inefficient at recovering low-abundance but highly prevalent phages such as Gut-P1, suggesting that the hidden diversity of human enteroviruses has not yet been explored. Our results call for innovative approaches to isolate and identify intestinal phages from the human gut and to rethink our current understanding of the enterovirus, particularly its underestimated diversity and overestimated individual specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueyang Zhao
- College of Life Science, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, Henan, China
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Molecular-imaging, Center for Artificial Intelligence Biology, Department of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Chuqing Sun
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Molecular-imaging, Center for Artificial Intelligence Biology, Department of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Menglu Jin
- College of Life Science, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, Henan, China
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Molecular-imaging, Center for Artificial Intelligence Biology, Department of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Jingchao Chen
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Molecular-imaging, Center for Artificial Intelligence Biology, Department of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Lulu Xing
- College of Life Science, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, Henan, China
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Molecular-imaging, Center for Artificial Intelligence Biology, Department of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Jin Yan
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Molecular-imaging, Center for Artificial Intelligence Biology, Department of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Hailei Wang
- College of Life Science, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, Henan, China
| | - Zhi Liu
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Wei-Hua Chen
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Molecular-imaging, Center for Artificial Intelligence Biology, Department of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Institution of Medical Artificial Intelligence, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
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Kok DN, Turnbull J, Takeuchi N, Tsourkas PK, Hendrickson HL. In Vitro Evolution to Increase the Titers of Difficult Bacteriophages: RAMP-UP Protocol. PHAGE (NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y.) 2023; 4:68-81. [PMID: 37350994 PMCID: PMC10282794 DOI: 10.1089/phage.2023.0005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
Background Bacteriophages are becoming increasingly important in the race to find alternatives to antibiotics. Unfortunately, bacteriophages that might otherwise be useful are sometimes discarded due to low titers making them unsuitable for downstream applications. Methods Here, we present two distinct approaches used to experimentally evolve novel New Zealand Paenibacillus larvae bacteriophages. The first approach uses the traditional agar-overlay method, whereas the other was a 96-well plate liquid infection protocol that improved phage titers in as little as four days. We also used a mathematical model to probe the parameters and limits of the RAMP-UP approach to rapidly select mutants that improve bacteriophage titers. Results Both experimental approaches resulted in an increase in plaque-forming units (PFU/mL). The liquid infection approach developed here, which we call RAMP-UP for Rapid Adaptive Mutation of Phage - UP, was significantly faster and simpler, and allowed us to evolve high titer bacteriophages in as little as four days. Titers were increased from 100-100,000-fold relative to their ancestors. The resultant titers were sufficient to extract and sequence DNA from these bacteriophages. An analysis of these phage genomes is provided. Conclusion The RAMP-UP protocol is an effective method for experimentally evolving previously intractable bacteriophages in a high-throughput and expeditious manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle N. Kok
- School of Natural Sciences, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Joanne Turnbull
- School of Natural Sciences, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Nobuto Takeuchi
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Philippos K. Tsourkas
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Heather L. Hendrickson
- School of Natural Sciences, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
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9
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Droubogiannis S, Pavlidi L, Skliros D, Flemetakis E, Katharios P. Comprehensive Characterization of a Novel Bacteriophage, vB_VhaS_MAG7 against a Fish Pathogenic Strain of Vibrio harveyi and Its In Vivo Efficacy in Phage Therapy Trials. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24098200. [PMID: 37175906 PMCID: PMC10179652 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24098200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Vibrio harveyi, a significant opportunistic marine pathogen, has been a challenge to the aquaculture industry, leading to severe economical and production losses. Phage therapy has been an auspicious approach in controlling such bacterial infections in the era of antimicrobial resistance. In this study, we isolated and fully characterized a novel strain-specific phage, vB_VhaS_MAG7, which infects V. harveyi MM46, and tested its efficacy as a therapeutic agent in challenged gilthead seabream larvae. vB_VhaS_MAG7 is a tailed bacteriophage with a double-stranded DNA of 49,315 bp. No genes linked with virulence or antibiotic resistance were harbored in the genome. The phage had a remarkably large burst size of 1393 PFU cell-1 and showed strong lytic ability in in vitro assays. When applied in phage therapy trials in challenged gilthead seabream larvae, vB_VhaS_MAG7 was capable of improving the survival of the larvae up to 20%. Due to its distinct features and safety, vB_VhaS_MAG7 is considered a suitable candidate for applied phage therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stavros Droubogiannis
- Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology & Aquaculture, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, 71500 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Lydia Pavlidi
- Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology & Aquaculture, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, 71500 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Skliros
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Department of Biotechnology, School of Food, Biotechnology and Development, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
| | - Emmanouil Flemetakis
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Department of Biotechnology, School of Food, Biotechnology and Development, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
| | - Pantelis Katharios
- Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology & Aquaculture, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, 71500 Heraklion, Greece
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10
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Characteristics of a novel temperate bacteriophage against Staphylococcus arlettae (vB_SarS_BM31). Int Microbiol 2022; 26:327-341. [PMID: 36336729 PMCID: PMC9638216 DOI: 10.1007/s10123-022-00292-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Staphylococcus arlettae is a rarely reported coagulase-negative staphylococcus (CoNS) isolated from infected humans and livestock. Observing phage-bacteria interaction could improve the understanding of bacterial pathogenetic mechanisms, providing foundational evidence for phage therapy or phage detection. Herein, we aimed to characterise and annotate a novel bacteriophage, vB_SarS_BM31 (BM31), specific to S. arlettae. This bacteriophage was isolated from a milk sample associated with bovine mastitis and collected in the Sichuan Province, China. RESULTS The BM31 genome comprised a linear double-stranded DNA of 42,271 base pair in length with a G + C content of 34.59%. A total of 65 open reading frames (ORFs) were assembled from phage DNA, of which 29 were functionally annotated. These functional genes were divided into four modules: the structural, DNA packing and replication, lysis, and lysogeny modules. Holin (ORF25), lysin (ORF26), and integrase (ORF28) were located closely in the entire BM31 genome and were important for lyse or lysogeny cycle of BM31. The phage was identified as a temperate phage according to whole genome analysis and life cycle assay, with basic biological characteristics such as small burst size, short latency period, and narrow host range, consistent with the characteristics of the family Siphoviridae, subcluster B14 of the Staphylococcus bacteriophage. CONCLUSIONS The present isolation and characterisation of BM31 contributes to the Staphylococcus bacteriophage database and provides a theoretical foundation for its potential applications. To the best of our knowledge, BM31 is the only shared and completely reported phage against S. arlettae in the entire public database.
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Inbaraj S, Angappan M, Thomas P, Kumar M, Irungbam K, Verma MR, Viswas KN, Abhishek, Rawat M, Chaudhuri P. Isolation and characterization of bacteriophage Ib_pec2 against shigatoxigenic Escherichia coli. J Basic Microbiol 2022; 63:472-480. [PMID: 36270976 DOI: 10.1002/jobm.202200398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2022] [Revised: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
This study was aimed to isolate and characterize bacteriophage against drug-resistant, shigatoxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC), one of the zoonotic, food-borne organisms associated with ruminants, mainly cattle. STEC were isolated (n = 35) from neonatal calves, dairy workers, and the surrounding environment and their antimicrobial resistance pattern was studied. Out of the 35 isolates tested, 17 isolates were found to be multidrug resistant to important antibiotics like ampicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, ciprofloxacin, streptomycin, and tetracycline. Bacteriophage namely Ib_pec2 was isolated against one of the STEC isolates and its morphology, genetic and proteomic characterization was done. Morphological analysis by TEM revealed bacteriophages belonging to myoviridae family. The genetic characterization of g23 gene revealed that the bacteriophage belonged to Tequatrovirus of myoviridae family. Proteomic analysis was able to identify five proteins identical to Tequatrovirus of myoviridae family. One-step growth curve experiment revealed a latency period of 40 min and a burst size of 893 pfu/bacteria. Temperature and pH ranging from 40°C to 50°C, pH 6-8, respectively. Phage could able to lyse majority of the STEC isolates. STEC are commensal organisms in the gastrointestinal tract of ruminants but are pathogenic in humans. Bacteriophages can be used as alternatives to antibiotics to control bacterial growth in ruminants and prevent its further spillage in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia Inbaraj
- Division of Bacteriology and Mycology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - M Angappan
- Division of Veterinary Public Health, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Prasad Thomas
- Division of Bacteriology and Mycology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Manish Kumar
- Division of Bacteriology and Mycology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Karuna Irungbam
- Animal Biochemistry Section, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Med Ram Verma
- Division of Livestock Economics, Statistics and Information Technology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - K Nagaleekar Viswas
- Division of Bacteriology and Mycology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Abhishek
- Division of Bacteriology and Mycology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Mayank Rawat
- (Retd)Division of Biological Standardisation, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Pallab Chaudhuri
- Division of Bacteriology and Mycology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India
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12
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Droubogiannis S, Pavlidi L, Tsertou MI, Kokkari C, Skliros D, Flemetakis E, Katharios P. Vibrio Phage Artemius, a Novel Phage Infecting Vibrio alginolyticus. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11080848. [PMID: 36014969 PMCID: PMC9416449 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11080848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Vibrio alginolyticus is an important pathogen of marine animals and has been the target of phage therapy applications in marine aquaculture for many years. Here, we report the isolation and partial characterization of a novel species of the Siphoviridae family, the Vibrio phage Artemius. The novel phage was species-specific and could only infect strains of V. alginolyticus. It could efficiently reduce the growth of the host bacterium at various multiplicities of infection as assessed by an in vitro lysis assay. It had a genome length of 43,349 base pairs. The complete genome has double-stranded DNA with a G + C content of 43.61%. In total, 57 ORFs were identified, of which 19 were assigned a predicted function. A genomic analysis indicated that Vibrio phage Artemius is lytic and does not harbor genes encoding toxins and antibiotic resistance determinants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stavros Droubogiannis
- Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology & Aquaculture, 71500 Heraklion, Greece; (S.D.); (L.P.); (M.I.T.); (C.K.)
- Department of Biology, School of Sciences and Engineering, University of Crete, 71500 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Lydia Pavlidi
- Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology & Aquaculture, 71500 Heraklion, Greece; (S.D.); (L.P.); (M.I.T.); (C.K.)
| | - Maria Ioanna Tsertou
- Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology & Aquaculture, 71500 Heraklion, Greece; (S.D.); (L.P.); (M.I.T.); (C.K.)
| | - Constantina Kokkari
- Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology & Aquaculture, 71500 Heraklion, Greece; (S.D.); (L.P.); (M.I.T.); (C.K.)
| | - Dimitrios Skliros
- Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece; (D.S.); (E.F.)
| | - Emmanouil Flemetakis
- Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece; (D.S.); (E.F.)
| | - Pantelis Katharios
- Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology & Aquaculture, 71500 Heraklion, Greece; (S.D.); (L.P.); (M.I.T.); (C.K.)
- Correspondence:
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13
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Ye Y, Chen H, Huang Q, Huang S, He J, Zhang J, Wu Q, Li X, Hu W, Yang M. Characterization and Genomic Analysis of Novel Vibrio parahaemolyticus Phage vB_VpaP_DE10. Viruses 2022; 14:v14081609. [PMID: 35893675 PMCID: PMC9329989 DOI: 10.3390/v14081609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In the present study, a novel lytic Vibrio parahaemolyticus phage, vB_VpaP_DE10, was isolated from sewage samples collected in Guangzhou city, China. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that phage vB_VpaP_DE10 has an icosahedral head (52.4 ± 2.5 nm) and a short non-contracted tail (21.9 ± 1.0 nm). Phage vB_VpaP_DE10 lysed approximately 31% (8/26) of the antibiotic-resistant V. parahaemolyticus strains tested. A one-step growth curve showed that phage vB_VpaP_DE10 has a relatively long latency time of 25 min and a burst size of ~19 PFU per cell. The genome of phage vB_VpaP_DE10 is a 42,871-bp-long dsDNA molecule with a G + C content of 49.19% and is predicted to contain 46 open reading frames, 26 of which are predicted to be related to functions such as phage structure, packaging, host lysis, and DNA metabolism. Sequence comparisons suggested that vB_VpaP_DE10 is a member of the genus Maculvirus within the family Autographiviridae. Morphological and genomic analysis indicated that vB_VpaP_DE10 is a novel V. parahaemolyticus phage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanming Ye
- College of Agriculture, College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University, 483 Wushan Road, Guangzhou 510642, China; (Y.Y.); (H.C.); (Q.H.); (S.H.); (J.H.); (X.L.)
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, China; (J.Z.); (Q.W.)
| | - Hanfang Chen
- College of Agriculture, College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University, 483 Wushan Road, Guangzhou 510642, China; (Y.Y.); (H.C.); (Q.H.); (S.H.); (J.H.); (X.L.)
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, China; (J.Z.); (Q.W.)
| | - Qiaolan Huang
- College of Agriculture, College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University, 483 Wushan Road, Guangzhou 510642, China; (Y.Y.); (H.C.); (Q.H.); (S.H.); (J.H.); (X.L.)
| | - Shixuan Huang
- College of Agriculture, College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University, 483 Wushan Road, Guangzhou 510642, China; (Y.Y.); (H.C.); (Q.H.); (S.H.); (J.H.); (X.L.)
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, China; (J.Z.); (Q.W.)
| | - Jiaxin He
- College of Agriculture, College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University, 483 Wushan Road, Guangzhou 510642, China; (Y.Y.); (H.C.); (Q.H.); (S.H.); (J.H.); (X.L.)
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, China; (J.Z.); (Q.W.)
| | - Jumei Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, China; (J.Z.); (Q.W.)
| | - Qingping Wu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, China; (J.Z.); (Q.W.)
| | - Xueling Li
- College of Agriculture, College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University, 483 Wushan Road, Guangzhou 510642, China; (Y.Y.); (H.C.); (Q.H.); (S.H.); (J.H.); (X.L.)
| | - Wenfeng Hu
- College of Agriculture, College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University, 483 Wushan Road, Guangzhou 510642, China; (Y.Y.); (H.C.); (Q.H.); (S.H.); (J.H.); (X.L.)
- Correspondence: (W.H.); (M.Y.)
| | - Meiyan Yang
- College of Agriculture, College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University, 483 Wushan Road, Guangzhou 510642, China; (Y.Y.); (H.C.); (Q.H.); (S.H.); (J.H.); (X.L.)
- Correspondence: (W.H.); (M.Y.)
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Pan L, Li D, Lin W, Liu W, Qin W, Xu L, Tong Y. Genomic analysis of a novel active prophage of Hafnia paralvei. Arch Virol 2022; 167:2027-2034. [PMID: 35752683 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-022-05498-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Little is known about the prophages in Hafniaceae bacteria. A novel Hafnia phage, yong2, was induced from Hafnia paralvei by treatment with mitomycin C. The phage has an elliptical head with dimensions of approximately 45 × 38 nm and a long noncontractile tail of approximately 157 × 4 nm. The complete genome of Hafnia phage yong2 is a 39,546-bp double-stranded DNA with a G+C content of 49.9%, containing 59 open reading frames (ORFs) and having at least one fixed terminus (GGGGCAGCGACA). In phylogenetic analysis, Hafnia phage yong2 clustered with four predicted Hafnia prophages and one predicted Enterobacteriaceae prophage. These prophages and members of the family Drexlerviridae together formed two distinct subclades nested within a clade, suggesting the existence of a novel class of prophages with conserved sequences and a unique evolutionary status not yet studied before in Hafniaceae and Enterobacteriaceae bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingting Pan
- Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, Zhejiang, China
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Dengfeng Li
- Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Wei Lin
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Wencai Liu
- Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, Zhejiang, China
| | - Weinan Qin
- Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lihua Xu
- Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yigang Tong
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China.
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15
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Droubogiannis S, Katharios P. Genomic and Biological Profile of a Novel Bacteriophage, Vibrio phage Virtus, Which Improves Survival of Sparus aurata Larvae Challenged with Vibrio harveyi. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11060630. [PMID: 35745484 PMCID: PMC9229204 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11060630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria, commonly known as “superbugs”, phage therapy for the control of bacterial diseases rose in popularity. In this context, the use of phages for the management of many important bacterial diseases in the aquaculture environment is auspicious. Vibrio harveyi, a well-known and serious bacterial pathogen, is responsible for many disease outbreaks in aquaculture, resulting in huge economic and production losses. We isolated and fully characterized a novel bacteriophage, Vibrio phage Virtus, infecting V. harveyi strain VH2. Vibrio phage Virtus can infect a wide spectrum of Vibrio spp., including strains of V. harveyi, V. owensii, V. campbellii, V. parahaemolyticus, and V. mediterranei. It has a latent period of 40 min with an unusually high burst size of 3200 PFU/cell. Vibrio phage Virtus has a double-stranded DNA of 82,960 base pairs with 127 predicted open reading frames (ORFs). No virulence, antibiotic resistance, or integrase-encoding genes were detected. In vivo phage therapy trials in gilthead seabream, Sparus aurata, larvae demonstrated that Vibrio phage Virtus was able to significantly improve the survival of larvae for five days at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 10, which suggests that it can be an excellent candidate for phage therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stavros Droubogiannis
- Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology & Aquaculture, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, 71500 Heraklion, Greece;
- Department of Biology, School of Sciences and Engineering, University of Crete, 71500 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Pantelis Katharios
- Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology & Aquaculture, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, 71500 Heraklion, Greece;
- Correspondence:
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