Enhanced control of pathogenic <i>Vibrio</i> spp. in aquaculture using phages capable of disrupting biofilms outside their host range

The effective control of <i>Vibrio</i> infections in aquaculture remains a major challenge, largely due to the resilience of multispecies biofilms against conventional antimicrobial treatments. This study identifies two novel lytic phages, VpT and VpR, which not only prevent and disrupt biofilms formed by phage-sensitive, multidrug-resistant <i>Vibrio parahaemolyticus</i> but also degrade preformed biofilms of multiple phage-insensitive <i>Vibrio</i> species and complex mixed-species <i>Vibrio</i> communities. Notably, their distinct and synergistic infection mechanisms enhance antimicrobial efficacy by suppressing bacterial regrowth, thereby addressing a critical limitation of current phage therapies. These findings underscore the strong potential of these phages as next-generation biocontrol agents for combating complex <i>Vibrio</i> biofilms and enhancing pathogen control in aquaculture systems.