A1 Journal article (refereed)
Prevalence of genetically similar Flavobacterium columnare phages across aquaculture environments reveals a strong potential for pathogen control (2022)

Runtuvuori‐Salmela, A., Kunttu, H. M. T., Laanto, E., Almeida, G. M. F., Mäkelä, K., Middelboe, M., & Sundberg, L‐R. (2022). Prevalence of genetically similar Flavobacterium columnare phages across aquaculture environments reveals a strong potential for pathogen control. Environmental Microbiology, 24(5), Article 2404-2420. https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.15901

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Runtuvuori‐Salmela, A.; Kunttu, H. M. T.; Laanto, E.; Almeida, G. M. F.; Mäkelä, K.; Middelboe, M.; Sundberg, L‐R.

Journal or series: Environmental Microbiology

ISSN: 1462-2912

eISSN: 1462-2920

Publication year: 2022

Publication date: 20/01/2022

Volume: 24

Issue number: 5

Article number: 2404-2420

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.15901

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/79516

Web address of parallel published publication (pre-print): https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.09.23.309583v1

Additional information: Special Issue: Microbial Ecology of Aquatic Systems

Abstract

Intensive aquaculture conditions expose fish to bacterial infections, leading to significant financial losses, extensive antibiotic use and risk of antibiotic resistance in target bacteria. Flavobacterium columnare causes columnaris disease in aquaculture worldwide. To develop a bacteriophage-based control of columnaris disease, we isolated and characterized 126 F. columnare strains and 63 phages against F. columnare from Finland and Sweden in 2017. Bacterial isolates were virulent on rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and fell into four previously described genetic groups A, C, E and G, with genetic groups C and E being the most virulent. Phage host range studied against a collection of 227 bacterial isolates (from 2013-2017) demonstrated modular infection patterns based on host genetic group. Phages infected contemporary and previously isolated bacterial hosts, but bacteria isolated most recently were generally resistant to previously isolated phages. Despite large differences in geographical origin, isolation year or host range of the phages, whole genome sequencing of 56 phages showed high level of genetic similarity to previously isolated F. columnare phages (Ficleduovirus, Myoviridae). Altogether, this phage collection demonstrates a potential for use in phage therapy.

Keywords: aquaculture; fish diseases; pathogens; bacteria; virulence; bacteriophages

Free keywords: Flavobacterium columnare; aquaculture environments; pathogen control

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Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2022

JUFO rating: 2