Isolation of a T7-Like Lytic <i>Pasteurella</i> Bacteriophage vB_PmuP_PHB01 and Its Potential Use in Therapy against <i>Pasteurella multocida</i> Infections

• Main Authors: Yibao Chen, Guanghao Guo, Erchao Sun, Jiaoyang Song, Lan Yang, Lili Zhu, Wan Liang, Lin Hua, Zhong Peng, Xibiao Tang, Huanchun Chen, Bin Wu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-01-01
• Series: Viruses
• Subjects: bacteriophage; lytic; <i>P. multocida</i> type D; isolation; therapeutic application
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/11/1/86

A lytic bacteriophage PHB01 specific for <i>Pasteurella multocida</i> type D was isolated from the sewage water collected from a pig farm. This phage had the typical morphology of the family <i>Podoviridae</i>, order <i>Caudovirales</i>, presenting an isometric polyhedral head and a short noncontractile tail. PHB01 was able to infect most of the non-toxigenic <i>P. multocida</i> type D strains tested, but not toxigenic type D strains and those belonging to other capsular types. Phage PHB01, the first lytic phage specific for <i>P. multocida</i> type D sequenced thus far, presents a 37,287-bp double-stranded DNA genome with a 223-bp terminal redundancy. The PHB01 genome showed the highest homology with that of PHB02, a lytic phage specific for <i>P. multocida</i> type A. Phylogenetic analysis showed that PHB01 and PHB02 were composed of a genus that was close to the T7-virus genus. In vivo tests using mouse models showed that the administration of PHB01 was safe to the mice and had a good effect on treating the mice infected with different <i>P. multocida</i> type D strains including virulent strain HN05. These findings suggest that PHB01 has a potential use in therapy against infections caused by <i>P. multocida</i> type D.