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A novel vibriophage exhibits inhibitory activity against host protein synthesis machinery

Khrongkhwan Thammatinna1, MacKennon E Egan2, Htut Htut Htoo3

  • 1Center of Excellence for Molecular Biology and Genomics of Shrimp, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.

Scientific Reports
|February 13, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Researchers discovered Seahorse, a novel bacteriophage targeting Vibrio parahaemolyticus (VPAHPND), a deadly shrimp pathogen. This phage shows potential for controlling antibiotic-resistant bacteria and discovering new therapeutic proteins.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Virology
  • Aquaculture

Background:

  • Emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria and deadly pathogens necessitates novel control strategies.
  • Vibrioparahaemolyticus (VPAHPND) is a significant shrimp pathogen causing acute hepatopancreatic necrosis, exhibiting increasing antibiotic resistance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To discover and characterize a novel bacteriophage targeting the shrimp pathogen Vibrio parahaemolyticus (VPAHPND).
  • To evaluate the potential of this bacteriophage as a bioagent for controlling bacterial infections and as a source of therapeutic proteins.

Main Methods:

  • Isolation and classification of a novel vibriophage, Seahorse, belonging to the Siphoviridae family.
  • Assessment of Seahorse's infectivity across various pH and temperature conditions.
  • Analysis of the phage's lytic cycle, including latent period and progeny production.
  • Investigation of host cell morphological changes post-infection and genome sequencing.

Main Results:

  • Seahorse bacteriophage specifically targets and infects VPAHPND.
  • The phage exhibits stability over a broad pH and temperature range, with a short latent period of approximately 30 minutes and high progeny yield (72 particles/cell).
  • Phage infection induces significant changes in host nucleoid morphology, suggesting hijacking of host biosynthesis pathways.
  • The Seahorse genome contains 48 open reading frames, including hypothetical proteins with therapeutic potential.

Conclusions:

  • Seahorse is a promising bacteriophage for controlling VPAHPND, offering a potential alternative to antibiotics in aquaculture.
  • The characterized phage demonstrates robust infectivity and a rapid lytic cycle.
  • The Seahorse genome represents a valuable resource for discovering novel phage-derived therapeutic proteins for combating bacterial infections.

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