Isolation, characterization, and complete genome sequence of vibrio phage KIT04, a novel lytic phage of the subfamily ermolyevavirinae.

Vibrio phage KIT04 was isolated from muscle tissue samples collected from a local market in Vietnam. KIT04 is a lytic phage that is specific to Vibrio parahaemolyticus. The one-step growth curve determined the burst size and latent period of 0.01 multiplicity of infection KIT04 in V. parahaemolyticus as approximately 156 plaque-forming units/bacterium and 45 min, respectively. Vibrio phage KIT04 has an approximately 76.4 ± 4.5 nm diameter icosahedral head and a tail length of approximately 159.5 ± 16.6 nm long tail. KIT04 significantly reduced V. parahaemolyticus ATCC 17802 in vitro. Complete genome analysis showed that KIT04 had a 114,933 bp dsDNA genome with 40.24% G + C content and 160 open reading frames (ORFs). However, the phage genome contained 24 tRNAs and no lysogeny-related genes. Moreover, five of the 160 ORFs encoded unique hypothetical proteins, indicating that KIT04 is a novel phage. Genomic comparison indicated that KIT04 is closely related to the Vibrio phages pVp-1 and VPT02. Further, phylogenetic analysis of the major tail proteins and whole genome supported the KIT04 classification into the subfamily Ermolyevavirinae. Our study describes a new candidate phage that could be used as a bioagent for controlling Vibrio pathogens.