Isolation and characterisation of pVa-21, a giant bacteriophage with anti-biofilm potential against Vibrio alginolyticus

Sang Guen Kim,Sang Wha Kim,Se Chang Park,Sib Sankar Giri,Dalsang Jeong,Jin Woo Jun,Se Jin Han,Jeong Woo Kang,Saekil Yun,Hyoun Joong Kim

doi:10.1038/s41598-019-42681-1

Sang Guen Kim, Sang Wha Kim + Show 8 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-42681-1

Copy DOI

Abstract

There is an increasing emergence of antibiotic-resistant Vibrio alginolyticus, a zoonotic pathogen that causes mass mortality in aquatic animals and infects humans; therefore, there is a demand for alternatives to antibiotics for the treatment and prevention of infections caused by this pathogen. One possibility is through the exploitation of bacteriophages. In the present study, the novel bacteriophage pVa-21 was classified as Myoviridae and characterised as a candidate biocontrol agent against V. alginolyticus. Its morphology, host range and infectivity, growth characteristics, planktonic or biofilm lytic activity, stability under various conditions, and genome were investigated. Its latent period and burst size were estimated to be approximately 70 min and 58 plaque-forming units/cell, respectively. In addition, phage pVa-21 can inhibit bacterial growth in both the planktonic and biofilm states. Furthermore, phylogenetic and genome analysis revealed that the phage is closely related to the giant phiKZ-like phages and can be classified as a new member of the phiKZ-like bacteriophages that infect bacteria belonging to the family Vibrionaceae.

Highlights

Vibrio alginolyticus, a representative of Harveyi clade bacteria, is frequently found in marine environments
Bacteriophages infect and lyse targeted bacteria. Due to their specific antibacterial activities, lytic phages have been demonstrated as alternatives to antibiotic therapy in humans[19], veterinary science[20], and aquaculture[21]
Purified phages were examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and classified based on the criteria proposed by Ackermann[27]

Summary

Introduction

A representative of Harveyi clade bacteria, is frequently found in marine environments. This organism can infect a variety of aquatic animals and infection has been linked to several mass mortality cases in major aquaculture species from fish to molluscs and crustaceans[1–4]. The isolation of V. alginolyticus strains with multiple antibiotic resistance have been reported from several recent outbreaks[16–18]. There is a growing need for effective alternatives to antibiotics for managing bacterial infections and biofilms. Bacteriophages (phages) infect and lyse targeted bacteria Due to their specific antibacterial activities, lytic phages have been demonstrated as alternatives to antibiotic therapy in humans[19], veterinary science[20], and aquaculture[21]. This study focuses on the anti-planktonic and anti-biofilm activities of this phage and its genomic properties

Methods

Results

Conclusion