Bacteriophage application in inhibiting corrosion- producing bacteria

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Biotechnology
• Materials Science

Background:

• Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) cause significant industrial problems like microbially-induced corrosion (MIC) and souring (MIS).
• SRB's resistance to conventional antimicrobials necessitates alternative control strategies.
• Bacteriophage (phage) therapy presents a promising, targeted approach for SRB management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To isolate and characterize a novel lytic bacteriophage targeting Desulfovibrio vulgaris.
• To evaluate the efficacy of the isolated phage in controlling SRB activity and associated corrosion.
• To analyze the genomic and physicochemical properties of the phage for potential applications.

Main Methods:

• Isolation of a lytic phage (SRB7757) from sewage targeting Desulfovibrio vulgaris.
• Assessment of SRB7757's impact on sulfide production and metal corrosion.
• Genomic sequencing and analysis of SRB7757, including Open Reading Frames (ORFs) and tRNA identification.
• Determination of phage stability across various temperatures and pH levels.
• Evaluation of lytic enzyme activity for biofilm removal.

Main Results:

• SRB7757 significantly inhibited sulfide production by 92.3% within 24 hours.
• The phage markedly reduced metal corrosion on specimens after 28 days.
• SRB7757 possesses a 142,573 bp genome with 217 ORFs, belonging to the Chaseviridae family.
• The phage demonstrated stability across a wide temperature (4-60°C) and pH (2.0-12.0) range.
• Predicted lytic enzymes showed high inactivation and biofilm removal rates.

Conclusions:

• SRB7757 is a potent lytic phage effective against Desulfovibrio vulgaris.
• Phage therapy using SRB7757 offers a viable solution for controlling SRB-mediated MIC and MIS in industrial settings.
• The characterized properties of SRB7757 support its development as a targeted antimicrobial agent.