Diverse Bacteriophages Infecting the Bacterial Striped Catfish Pathogen Edwardsiella ictaluri

Abstract

Bacteriophages infecting Edwardsiella ictaluri have been less investigated, although the host bacterium is one of the most important fish pathogens causing enteric septicemia of catfish (ESC). We present here two distinctly novel bacteriophages vB_EiM_PVN06 and vB_EiA_PVN09 infecting Edwardsiella ictaluri E1, with their geographical origins from the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Bacteriophage vB_EiM_PVN06 native to a mud sample reveals complete differences of biological properties with the phage vB_EiA_PVN09 originated from a viscus of a healthy catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) cultured in the same area. Morphological analyses combined with genomic data indicate that phage vB_EiM_PVN06 is classified to Myoviridae family and shares high similarity with E. ictaluri phage PEi21 genome, while vB_EiA_PVN09 is a member of Teseptimavirus genus, Autographiviridae family, and mostly closes to phage vB_EcoP_IME390. The vB_EiA_PVN09 is a T7-like bacteriophage, which has been firstly found infecting to E. ictaluri, and host range analysis also evidences for the cross-infection of this phage to Escherichia coli K12 and Escherichia coli DH5α. Together, our research highlights the diversity of bacteriophages infecting the pathogen E. ictaluri and suggests further explorations of lytic phages in environmental niches, to be exploited in feasible strategies of phage therapy in ESC disease control.

Bacteriophage PVN06 protected catfish <i>Pangasianodon hypophthalmus</i> from <i>Edwardsiella ictaluri</i> infection

“…Bacterial strain, phage and fish Bacteriophage vB_EiM_PVN06 (Nguyen et al 2021) and its host, E. ictaluri E1 strain (Hoang et al 2018) , were previously isolated from a catfish pond and a diseased striped catfish, respectively, in Can Tho City, Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Bacterial cells and phages were stored at -70℃.…”

The activity of Muntingia calabura leaf extract against pathogenic bacteria in fish

“…E. ictaluri, a group of Gram negative bacteria, has been found to infect many catfish [7], especially fingerling sized fish [8]. Causing problems in the cultivation of Pangasianodon hypophthalmus fish, namely Enteric Septicemia of Catfish (ESC) [9]. P. aeruginosa is an opportunistic bacteria that infects many farmed fish [10].…”

Special Issue “Bacteriophage Genomics”: Editorial

“…This Special Issue “Bacteriophage Genomics” focuses on the latest achievements and problems of bacteriophage genomics. To date, 14 articles have been published on comparative and functional genomics of these viruses [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 ]. Most articles published in the Special Issue deal with the functional and structural genomics of various phages, including the identification of phage endolysins, potentially useful for therapy.…”