Bacteriophage PDCC-1 Modulates Biochemical Profiles and Reduces Bacterial Load in Spirulina (Limnospira sp.) maxima...

This research evaluates the impact of the PDCC-1 bacteriophage (phage) on the biochemical composition and bacterial levels of Spirulina (Limnospira sp.) maxima cultures over 10 days. The study analyzed key metabolic components such as proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, fatty acids, and pigments. The results showed a significant increase in protein and lipid content in cultures treated with the phage, with the highest concentration observed on day 5. Conversely, carbohydrate concentration decreased throughout the experiment, suggesting a shift in metabolic pathways influenced by the phage. Fatty acid analysis revealed time-dependent increases in 18:2ω6 and 18:3ω6, with the phage's potential modulation of fatty acid biosynthesis. Pigment analysis showed elevated chlorophyll a, lutein, β-carotene, and zeaxanthin concentrations in phage-treated cultures, particularly on day 5. Microbial load assessments revealed no detectable Vibrio colony-forming units (CFU) in phage-treated cultures, while the control cultures exhibited a bacterial load of 1.1 × 10⁴ CFU mL¹ by day 10. Similarly, plaque-forming units (PFU) analysis confirmed the bacteriophage's effectiveness in reducing bacterial contamination in the Spirulina cultures. These findings highlight the potential of bacteriophages as tools for modulating metabolic processes and controlling bacterial contamination in cyanobacteria. Using phages like PDCC-1 presents a promising strategy for improving Spirulina's biochemical profile for biotechnological applications.