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The metastable associations of bacteriophages and Erwinia amylovora

Natalya V Besarab1, Maria A Letarova2, Vladislav V Babenko3

  • 1Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, Belarusian State University, Nezavisimisty Ave., 4, 220030, Minsk, Belarus. 13natal0990@gmail.com.

Archives of Microbiology
|May 2, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Bacteriophages can form stable pseudolysogenic associations (PA) with bacteria like Erwinia amylovora, hindering their use as biological control agents. This co-existence mechanism requires further study for effective phage therapy applications.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Virology
  • Bacteriophage Research

Background:

  • Bacteriophages are explored for biological control in medicine, agriculture, and food.
  • Virulent phages can lead to stable phage-host co-existence rather than host population collapse.
  • Mechanisms of long-term stabilization in mixed phage-host cultures are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe bacteriophages VyarbaL and Hena2 and their interaction with Erwinia amylovora.
  • To investigate the formation of stable pseudolysogenic associations (PA) between these phages and bacteria.
  • To understand how PA formation impacts the effectiveness of bacteriophage-based biological control.

Main Methods:

  • Isolation and characterization of bacteriophages VyarbaL and Hena2.
  • Cultivation of Erwinia amylovora 1/79Sm on solid media.
  • Observation and stability testing of phage-host interactions over multiple passages.

Main Results:

  • Bacteriophages VyarbaL (Molineuxvirinae) and Hena2 (Ounavirinae) form stable pseudolysogenic associations (PA) with Erwinia amylovora 1/79Sm.
  • These PAs were maintained through multiple passages on solid media.
  • The formation of PA indicates a stable co-existence between the phages and the bacterial host.

Conclusions:

  • Pseudolysogenic associations (PA) represent a significant mechanism for phage-host co-existence.
  • The stability of PAs challenges the efficacy of lytic bacteriophages as sole biological control agents.
  • Understanding PA formation is crucial for developing robust bacteriophage-based control strategies.
Keywords:
AutographiviridaeCaudoviricetesFire blightMolineuxvirinae, Ounavirinae, biocontrolPhage-resistancePlant protectionPseudolysogenic associations

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