Characterization and genomic analysis of a broad-spectrum lytic phage PG288: A potential natural therapy candidate for Vibrio infections

This study characterized PG288, a lytic phage utilizing V. parahaemolyticus strain G855 as its host. Morphologically, the phage features a polyhedral head and a long, non-retractable tail. Bactericidal assays revealed that phage PG288 exhibited a strong lytic ability against V. parahaemolyticus strain G855 and demonstrated a broad host range, as evidenced by the ability to infect several distinct Vibrio species. The one-step growth curve indicated a latent period of approximately 50 min for phage PG288, with a burst size of roughly 92 PFU per cell. Additionally, phage PG288 exhibited remarkable stability within a temperature range of 20-50°C and a pH range of 4-10. Genomic analysis unveiled 105 ORFs within phage PG288, notably devoid of genes associated with antibiotic resistance, virulence, and lysogenic activity. Phylogenetic analysis conclusively identified it as a new member of the genus Mardecavirus within the class Caudoviricetes. In summary, this study contributes valuable insights to the phage database, presenting phage PG288 as a promising candidate for phage therapies against Vibrio infections.PMID:38224841 | PMC:PMC10835289 | DOI:10.1016/j.virusres.2024.199320
Source: Virus Research - Category: Virology Authors: Source Type: research