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Structural basis of multimodal adsorption and infection initiation by Vibrio phage Peru-2

Huaxin Yu1,2, Justin Zhao1,2,3, Jian Yue1,2

  • 1Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06516, USA.

Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|July 3, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Phage Peru-2, a unique Vibrio cholerae virus, uses flexible tailspikes to attach to biofilms via Vibrio polysaccharide. Its distinct structure and multimodal adsorption strategy offer new insights into phage-bacterial interactions.

Area of Science:

  • Structural biology
  • Microbiology
  • Virology

Background:

  • Phage Peru-2, isolated during Peruvian cholera outbreaks, differs from typical epidemic Vibrio cholerae phages.
  • The molecular mechanisms of Peru-2's adsorption and infection initiation were previously unknown.
  • Understanding Vibrio phage adsorption is crucial for their ecological and evolutionary roles.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the high-resolution architecture of Phage Peru-2.
  • To elucidate the infection mechanisms of Phage Peru-2.
  • To understand the host recognition and adsorption strategies of Vibrio phages.

Main Methods:

  • Single-particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) for high-resolution structure determination.
  • Cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) for imaging infected cells and infection intermediates.
  • Functional assays to assess the role of Vibrio polysaccharide (VPS) in adsorption.

Main Results:

  • The mature Peru-2 virion structure was resolved, revealing an icosahedral capsid, minor capsid proteins, and flexible tailspikes.
  • Tailspikes were found to be enzymatically active, mediating attachment to Vibrio polysaccharide (VPS).
  • Cryo-ET revealed multimodal adsorption strategies, including interaction with bacterial cell surface and flagella, and identified infection intermediates.

Conclusions:

  • Phage Peru-2 possesses a unique structure with flexible tailspikes essential for VPS-mediated attachment.
  • Peru-2 employs multiple adsorption strategies distinct from T7-like phages.
  • The study provides a mechanistic framework for understanding Vibrio phage-host interactions.

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