Characterization and genomic analysis of a jumbo Aeromonas hydrophila phage BMBAH1, representing a candidate novel viral genus.
- 1National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China; National Engineering Research Center of Microbial Pesticides, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China; College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China; Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430070, China.
Abstract
Aeromonas hydrophila is an opportunistic pathogen of fish, humans, and livestock, and has a severe negative impact on aquaculture development. Phage therapy is considered an alternative strategy for controlling bacterial infections and contamination. In this study, a novel phage, Aeromonas hydrophila BMBAH1, was isolated. Transmission electron microscopy showed that phage BMBAH1 had a long tail and an icosahedral head. Biological characterization indicated that phage BMBAH1 remained highly active across a broad range of temperatures and pH values, exhibiting long-term and significant inhibitory effects on host bacteria at an optimal multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 0.1. The genome of phage BMBAH1 is 237 kb in length with a guanine-cytosine (GC) content of 44.3%, and it was identified as a typical jumbo phage and predicted to contain 241 open reading frames (ORFs). Whole-proteome-based phylogenetic analysis, gene-sharing network analysis, and core protein clustering consistently indicated that phage BMBAH1 belongs to the family Chimalliviridae. However, phage BMBAH1 exhibited low intergenomic similarity to previously isolated phages, with values of approximately 30%. These results support the designation of phage BMBAH1 as the representative member of a candidate novel viral genus, designated Southlakevirus. Our findings expand the diversity of A. hydrophila phages and provide a promising genetic resource for further exploring biological characteristics of jumbo phages and developing biocontrol strategies.
Related
- Contribution of ferrous iron transporter FeoB to iron utilization, membrane stability and biofilm formation in Aeromonas hydrophila.
- Reverse vaccinology for development of vaccine against Aeromonas hydrophila infection in nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).
- Dietary L-Tryptophan Improves Growth, Antioxidant Status, Intestinal Barrier, and Resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila Infection in Largemouth Bass.
- Genomic characteristics of a carbapenem-resistant NDM-1-producing Aeromonas caviae isolate from extraintestinal infection
- Genomic and functional characterization of Bacillus siamensis AFSC23 isolated from the gut of European conger (Conger conger) as a probiotic candidate for aquaculture.
BibTeX
@article{huo2026characterization,
title = {{Characterization and genomic analysis of a jumbo Aeromonas hydrophila phage BMBAH1, representing a candidate novel viral genus.}},
author = {Shitian Huo and Pengfei Zhu and Jikai Xu and Kai Wang and Ming Sun and Donghai Peng},
journal = {Virus research},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.virusres.2026.199813},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42843456},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Characterization and genomic analysis of a jumbo Aeromonas hydrophila phage BMBAH1, representing a candidate novel viral genus.
AU - Shitian Huo
AU - Pengfei Zhu
AU - Jikai Xu
AU - Kai Wang
AU - Ming Sun
AU - Donghai Peng
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/07
JO - Virus research
DO - 10.1016/j.virusres.2026.199813
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42843456
AB - Aeromonas hydrophila is an opportunistic pathogen of fish, humans, and livestock, and has a severe negative impact on aquaculture development. Phage therapy is considered an alternative strategy for controlling bacterial infections and contamination. In this study, a novel phage, Aeromonas hydrophila BMBAH1, was isolated. Transmission electron microscopy showed that phage BMBAH1 had a long tail and an icosahedral head. Biological characterization indicated that phage BMBAH1 remained highly active across a broad range of temperatures and pH values, exhibiting long-term and significant inhibitory effects on host bacteria at an optimal multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 0.1. The genome of phage BMBAH1 is 237 kb in length with a guanine-cytosine (GC) content of 44.3%, and it was identified as a typical jumbo phage and predicted to contain 241 open reading frames (ORFs). Whole-proteome-based phylogenetic analysis, gene-sharing network analysis, and core protein clustering consistently indicated that phage BMBAH1 belongs to the family Chimalliviridae. However, phage BMBAH1 exhibited low intergenomic similarity to previously isolated phages, with values of approximately 30%. These results support the designation of phage BMBAH1 as the representative member of a candidate novel viral genus, designated Southlakevirus. Our findings expand the diversity of A. hydrophila phages and provide a promising genetic resource for further exploring biological characteristics of jumbo phages and developing biocontrol strategies.
SN - 0168-1702
SN - 1872-7492
ER -