A new group of cosmopolitan bacteriophages induce a carrier state in the pandemic strain of Vibrio parahaemolyticus

• DOI: 10.1111/j.1462-2920.2010.02143.x
• Publication Date: 2010-01-27T02:15:21Z
• Authors: Roberto Bastías; Gastón Higuera; Walter Sierralta; Romilio T. Espejo
• Keywords: Strain (injury); Lysogenic cycle; Vibrio Infections; Pandemic

A clonal population of pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus O3 : K6 serovar has spread in coastal waters, causing outbreaks worldwide since 1996. Bacteriophage infection is one the main factors affecting bacterial strain concentration ocean. We studied occurrence and properties phages infecting this V. pandemic waters. Analysing 143 samples, were found 13. All isolates clustered a closely related group podophages with at least 90% nucleotide sequence identity three essential genes, despite distant geographical origins. These bacteriophages able to multiply on strain, but impact host subsequent growth was negligible. Infected bacteria continued producing phage not lysogenized. The genome prototype VP93 43 931 nucleotides contains 337 bp direct terminal repeats both ends. first non-Pseudomonas PhiKMV-like subgroup T7 supergroup. lack major effect suggests that these exert little control propagation environment. This form can be modelled if phage-sensitive -resistant cells convert each other high frequency are present cultures parahaemolyticus.