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Characterization of a novel Yersinia ruckeri serotype O1‐specific bacteriophage with virulence‐neutralizing activity
Author(s) -
Welch Timothy J.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of fish diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.819
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1365-2761
pISSN - 0140-7775
DOI - 10.1111/jfd.13124
Subject(s) - yersinia ruckeri , lytic cycle , microbiology and biotechnology , bacteriophage , rainbow trout , biology , phage therapy , serotype , mutant , virology , virulence , virus , gene , biochemistry , fish <actinopterygii> , escherichia coli , fishery
Abstract A lytic bacteriophage (φNC10) specific to serotype O1 Yersinia ruckeri has been identified and evaluated as a model to assess the potential use of bacteriophages and their products for disease control in aquaculture. Electron microscopy of purified φNC10 revealed a virion particle with a small (70 nm) polyhedral head and short tail. φNC10 infected only serotype O1 strains of Y. ruckeri and failed to bind a defined Y. ruckeri mutant strain lacking O1 lipopolysaccharides (O1‐LPS), suggesting that φNC10 uses O1‐LPS as its receptor. In addition, spontaneous φNC10‐resistant mutants of Y. ruckeri exhibited defects in O1‐LPS production and were sensitive to rainbow trout serum. Purified φNC10 displayed a polysaccharide depolymerase activity capable of degrading Y. ruckeri O1‐LPS and thereby sensitizing Y. ruckeri to the bactericidal effects of rainbow trout serum. The φNC10‐associated polysaccharide depolymerase activity also reduced the ability of Y. ruckeri cells to cause mortality following intraperitoneal injection into rainbow trout. These data demonstrate a potential utility of φNC10 and its associated polysaccharide depolymerase activity for Y. ruckeri disease prevention.