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Characterization and application of a lytic jumbo phage ZPAH34 against multidrug-resistant Aeromonas hydrophila

Yuting Hou1, Zhihao Wu1, Li Ren1

  • 1National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Engineering Research Center of Green Development for Conventional Aquatic Biological Industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, Ministry of Education, Shenzhen Institute of Nutrition and Health, College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.

Frontiers in Microbiology
|July 7, 2023
PubMed

Insights

A novel jumbo phage, ZPAH34, effectively targets multidrug-resistant Aeromonas hydrophila, a foodborne pathogen. This phage shows promise for enhancing food safety by reducing bacterial contamination on food surfaces.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Virology
  • Food Science

Background:

  • Aeromonas hydrophila is an emerging foodborne pathogen causing gastroenteritis.
  • Multidrug-resistant Aeromonas species in food pose significant public health risks.
  • Bacteriophages offer a potential strategy against drug-resistant bacterial pathogens.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To isolate and characterize a novel jumbo phage with lytic activity against multidrug-resistant Aeromonas hydrophila.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of the isolated phage for biocontrol of Aeromonas hydrophila on food surfaces.
  • To investigate the phylogenetic placement and biological characteristics of the novel phage.

Main Methods:

  • Isolation and characterization of phage ZPAH34 from a lake sample.
  • Genomic analysis of ZPAH34, revealing a large dsDNA genome.
  • Phylogenetic analysis to establish a new phage genus, Chaoshanvirus.
  • Biological characterization including environmental tolerance, adsorption, and replication.
  • Food biocontrol experiments on fish fillets and lettuce.

Main Results:

  • Phage ZPAH34 demonstrated lytic activity against multidrug-resistant Aeromonas hydrophila strain ZYAH75.
  • ZPAH34 inhibited biofilm formation on food-contacting surfaces.
  • The phage possesses a 234 kb dsDNA genome, classifying it as a novel jumbo phage with the smallest particle size reported for its category.
  • Phylogenetic analysis led to the establishment of the new genus Chaoshanvirus.
  • ZPAH34 exhibited broad environmental tolerance, rapid adsorption, and high reproductive capacity.
  • Significant reduction in Aeromonas hydrophila viable counts on fish fillets (2.31 log) and lettuce (3.28 log) was observed.

Conclusions:

  • Jumbo phage ZPAH34 represents a novel phage with a unique combination of a large genome and minimal virion size, contributing to phage diversity and evolution understanding.
  • This study marks the first application of a jumbo phage for the biocontrol of Aeromonas hydrophila in food safety.
  • Phage ZPAH34 shows significant potential as a bactericidal agent to mitigate foodborne A. hydrophila contamination.
Keywords:
Aeromonas hydrophilabiofilmfoodsgenomephage ZPAH34

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