Characterization and genome analysis of lytic Vibrio phage VPK8 with potential in lysing Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolates from clinical and seafood sources
Abstract Background Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a marine bacterium causing seafood-associated gastrointestinal illness in humans and acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) in shrimp. Bacteriophages have emerged as promising biocontrol agents against V. parahaemolyticus. This study characteri...
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BMC
2025-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12985-025-02637-6 |
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| author | Valalak Jintasakul Jiranan Pattano Sutima Preeprem Pimonsri Mittraparp-arthorn |
| author_facet | Valalak Jintasakul Jiranan Pattano Sutima Preeprem Pimonsri Mittraparp-arthorn |
| author_sort | Valalak Jintasakul |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a marine bacterium causing seafood-associated gastrointestinal illness in humans and acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) in shrimp. Bacteriophages have emerged as promising biocontrol agents against V. parahaemolyticus. This study characterizes Vibrio phage VPK8, focusing on host specificity, efficiency of plating (EOP) variability across V. parahaemolyticus isolates from diverse sources and other Vibrio species, morphology, genomic features, and bacteriolytic potential. Methods Vibrio phage VPK8 was isolated from blood cockles in Thailand using a mixed-host approach and purified via the double-layer agar method. Host specificity was evaluated using spot assays and EOP measurements against 120 Vibrio strains, including AHPND-associated, clinical, and seafood isolates. Phage morphology was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), while genomic features were analyzed using next-generation sequencing. Lytic characteristics, including latent period and burst size, were determined through one-step growth curves, and bacterial growth reduction was evaluated over a 24-h. Results Vibrio phage VPK8 is a lytic phage with a 42,866 bp linear double-stranded genome, G + C content of 49.4%, and 48 coding sequences. Phylogenetic analysis grouped it within the Autographiviridae family, showing 95.96% similarity to Vibrio phage vB_VpaP_MGD1. Viral proteomic analysis placed VPK8 within the Pseudomonadota host group. Spot assays indicated broad lytic activity, but EOP analysis revealed high infectivity in clinical and seafood V. parahaemolyticus isolates, as well as some V. cholerae and V. mimicus strains. TEM revealed an icosahedral head (~ 60 nm) and a short tail. At a multiplicity of infection of 0.01, VPK8 exhibited a latent period of 25 min, a burst size of 115, and effectively inhibited the reference host V. parahaemolyticus PSU5124 within 6 h, maintaining its lytic activity and stability for over 24 h. Conclusions This study provides a detailed characterization of Vibrio phage VPK8 which exhibits targeted infectivity with high EOP in clinical and seafood V. parahaemolyticus isolates, as well as selected Vibrio species. Its stable lytic performance, rapid replication, and genomic safety suggest its potential for phage-based applications. Further studies should explore its in vivo efficacy and the genetic features contributing to phage resistance mechanisms, enhancing its potential applicability in managing Vibrio-related diseases. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3a018a74a38a4603813e46c7647bcaf8 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1743-422X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | Virology Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-3a018a74a38a4603813e46c7647bcaf82025-02-02T12:08:40ZengBMCVirology Journal1743-422X2025-01-0122111510.1186/s12985-025-02637-6Characterization and genome analysis of lytic Vibrio phage VPK8 with potential in lysing Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolates from clinical and seafood sourcesValalak Jintasakul0Jiranan Pattano1Sutima Preeprem2Pimonsri Mittraparp-arthorn3Division of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla UniversityDivision of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla UniversityMedical and Industrial Microbiology Program, Faculty of Science Technology and Agriculture, Yala Rajabhat UniversityDivision of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla UniversityAbstract Background Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a marine bacterium causing seafood-associated gastrointestinal illness in humans and acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) in shrimp. Bacteriophages have emerged as promising biocontrol agents against V. parahaemolyticus. This study characterizes Vibrio phage VPK8, focusing on host specificity, efficiency of plating (EOP) variability across V. parahaemolyticus isolates from diverse sources and other Vibrio species, morphology, genomic features, and bacteriolytic potential. Methods Vibrio phage VPK8 was isolated from blood cockles in Thailand using a mixed-host approach and purified via the double-layer agar method. Host specificity was evaluated using spot assays and EOP measurements against 120 Vibrio strains, including AHPND-associated, clinical, and seafood isolates. Phage morphology was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), while genomic features were analyzed using next-generation sequencing. Lytic characteristics, including latent period and burst size, were determined through one-step growth curves, and bacterial growth reduction was evaluated over a 24-h. Results Vibrio phage VPK8 is a lytic phage with a 42,866 bp linear double-stranded genome, G + C content of 49.4%, and 48 coding sequences. Phylogenetic analysis grouped it within the Autographiviridae family, showing 95.96% similarity to Vibrio phage vB_VpaP_MGD1. Viral proteomic analysis placed VPK8 within the Pseudomonadota host group. Spot assays indicated broad lytic activity, but EOP analysis revealed high infectivity in clinical and seafood V. parahaemolyticus isolates, as well as some V. cholerae and V. mimicus strains. TEM revealed an icosahedral head (~ 60 nm) and a short tail. At a multiplicity of infection of 0.01, VPK8 exhibited a latent period of 25 min, a burst size of 115, and effectively inhibited the reference host V. parahaemolyticus PSU5124 within 6 h, maintaining its lytic activity and stability for over 24 h. Conclusions This study provides a detailed characterization of Vibrio phage VPK8 which exhibits targeted infectivity with high EOP in clinical and seafood V. parahaemolyticus isolates, as well as selected Vibrio species. Its stable lytic performance, rapid replication, and genomic safety suggest its potential for phage-based applications. Further studies should explore its in vivo efficacy and the genetic features contributing to phage resistance mechanisms, enhancing its potential applicability in managing Vibrio-related diseases.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12985-025-02637-6AHPNDBiocontrol agentEfficiency of platingPhage therapyShrimp aquacultureVibrio parahaemolyticus |
| spellingShingle | Valalak Jintasakul Jiranan Pattano Sutima Preeprem Pimonsri Mittraparp-arthorn Characterization and genome analysis of lytic Vibrio phage VPK8 with potential in lysing Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolates from clinical and seafood sources Virology Journal AHPND Biocontrol agent Efficiency of plating Phage therapy Shrimp aquaculture Vibrio parahaemolyticus |
| title | Characterization and genome analysis of lytic Vibrio phage VPK8 with potential in lysing Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolates from clinical and seafood sources |
| title_full | Characterization and genome analysis of lytic Vibrio phage VPK8 with potential in lysing Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolates from clinical and seafood sources |
| title_fullStr | Characterization and genome analysis of lytic Vibrio phage VPK8 with potential in lysing Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolates from clinical and seafood sources |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characterization and genome analysis of lytic Vibrio phage VPK8 with potential in lysing Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolates from clinical and seafood sources |
| title_short | Characterization and genome analysis of lytic Vibrio phage VPK8 with potential in lysing Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolates from clinical and seafood sources |
| title_sort | characterization and genome analysis of lytic vibrio phage vpk8 with potential in lysing vibrio parahaemolyticus isolates from clinical and seafood sources |
| topic | AHPND Biocontrol agent Efficiency of plating Phage therapy Shrimp aquaculture Vibrio parahaemolyticus |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12985-025-02637-6 |
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