Isolation and characterization of a novel phage of Vibrio parahaemolyticus with biocontrol potential

Abstract

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a major foodborne pathogen that contaminates aquatic products and causes great economic losses to aquaculture. Because of the emergence of multidrug-resistant V. parahaemolyticus strains, bacteriophages are considered promising agents for their biocontrol as an alternative or supplement to antibiotics. Here, a lytic vibriophage, vB_VpaM_R16F (R16F), was isolated from sewage from a seafood market by infecting V. parahaemolyticus 1.1997T. R16F was found to infect V. parahaemolyticus, but not nine other Vibrio spp. The phage belongs to the myovirus morphotype and lysed host cells with a short latent period (<10 min) and a small burst size (13 plaque-forming units). R16F has a linear double-stranded DNA with genome size 139,011 bp and a G+C content of 35.21%. Phylogenetic and intergenomic nucleotide sequence similarity analysis revealed that R16F is distinct from currently known vibriophages and belongs to a novel genus. Several genes (e.g., encoding ultraviolet damage endonuclease and endolysin) that may enhance environmental competitiveness were found in the genome of R16F, while no antibiotic resistance- or virulence factor-related gene was detected. In consideration of its biological and genetic properties, R16F is suggested to be a candidate biocontrol agent for use against V. parahaemolyticus.