Adaptive genomic plasticity in large-genome, broad-host–range vibrio phages

The host range of a bacteriophage-the diversity of hosts it can infect-is central to understanding phage ecology and applications. Whereas most well-characterized phages have narrow host ranges, broad-host-range phages represent an intriguing component of marine ecosystems. The genetic and evolutionary mechanisms driving their generalism remain poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed Schizotequatroviruses and their Vibrio crassostreae hosts, collected from an oyster farm. Schizotequatroviruses exhibit broad host ranges, large genomes (~252 kbp) encoding 26 transfer ribonucleic acids, and conserved genomic organization interspersed with recombination hotspots. These recombination events, particularly in regions encoding receptor-binding proteins and antidefense systems, highlight their adaptability to host resistance. Some lineages demonstrated the ability of receptor-switching between OmpK and LamB. Despite their broad host range, Schizotequatroviruses were rare in the environment. Their scarcity could not be attributed to burst size, which was comparable to other phages in vitro, but may result from ecological constraints or fitness trade-offs, such as their preference for targeting generalist vibrios in seawater rather than the patho-phylotypes selected in oyster farms. Our findings clarify the genetic and ecological variables shaping Schizotequatrovirus generalism and provide a foundation for future phage applications in aquaculture and beyond.

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Publication Details

Journal
The ISME Journal
Published
2025-01-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1093/ismejo/wraf063
Citations
4
Primary Topic
Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
6.87

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article

Adaptive genomic plasticity in large-genome, broad-host–range vibrio phages

Manon Lang, Jose Carlo Valencia, Carine Diarra, Karine Cahier et al.
4 citations
The ISME Journal
Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
6.87
article

Adaptive genomic plasticity in large-genome, broad-host–range vibrio phages

Manon Lang, Jose Carlo Valencia, Carine Diarra, Karine Cahier, Yves V. Brun, Martin G. Lamarche, Damien Piel, Eduardo P. C. Rocha, David Goudenège, Frédérique Le Roux, Charles Bernard, Gregory B. Whitfield, Yannick Labreuche, Peter Weigele, Yan‐Jiun Lee, Justine Groseille, Pauline Daszkowski
article en
4 citations

Abstract

The host range of a bacteriophage-the diversity of hosts it can infect-is central to understanding phage ecology and applications. Whereas most well-characterized phages have narrow host ranges, broad-host-range phages represent an intriguing component of marine ecosystems. The genetic and evolutionary mechanisms driving their generalism remain poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed Schizotequatroviruses and their Vibrio crassostreae hosts, collected from an oyster farm. Schizotequatroviruses exhibit broad host ranges, large genomes (~252 kbp) encoding 26 transfer ribonucleic acids, and conserved genomic organization interspersed with recombination hotspots. These recombination events, particularly in regions encoding receptor-binding proteins and antidefense systems, highlight their adaptability to host resistance. Some lineages demonstrated the ability of receptor-switching between OmpK and LamB. Despite their broad host range, Schizotequatroviruses were rare in the environment. Their scarcity could not be attributed to burst size, which was comparable to other phages in vitro, but may result from ecological constraints or fitness trade-offs, such as their preference for targeting generalist vibrios in seawater rather than the patho-phylotypes selected in oyster farms. Our findings clarify the genetic and ecological variables shaping Schizotequatrovirus generalism and provide a foundation for future phage applications in aquaculture and beyond.

The ISME JournalVol. 19(1)
New England Biolabs (United States) (US), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR), Université de Perpignan (FR), Ifremer (FR), Institut Pasteur (FR), Université de Montpellier (FR), Université Paris Cité (FR), Station Biologique de Roscoff (FR), Sorbonne Université (FR), Laboratoire de Biologie Intégrative des Modèles Marins (FR), Evolutionary Genomics (United States) (US), Université de Montréal (CA)
Université Laval, Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer, European Commission, Agence Nationale de la Recherche, Canada Excellence Research Chairs, Government of Canada, Institut de Recherche Clinique De Montréal, H2020 European Research Council
Life below water
Openalex Percentile: Top 4%
Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
6.87
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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