Integration of a marine bacteriophage into chitosan, sodium alginate and methylcellulose-based coatings to control microbial spoilage and Vibrio alginolyticus growth in fish

The global food industry faces significant challenges related to food spoilage, particularly in aquaculture, where pathogens like Vibrio species are major disease-causing agents. This study investigated the use of bacteriophage Athena1 as a biocontrol agent in biodegradable coatings for fish contaminated with Vibrio alginolyticus V1, evaluating its stability, lytic efficacy, and performance within biopolymer-based coatings. Athena1 demonstrated stable lytic activity across various pH and temperature conditions. When directly applied to fish slices, the phage significantly inhibited V. alginolyticus V1 growth, confirming its effectiveness in complex matrices like fish flesh. Results coming from the application of Coating+Athena1 varied: chitosan exhibited strong inherent antimicrobial properties with limited added benefit from the phage, while methylcellulose managed to maintain phage stability and showed effective bacterial inhibition. Sodium alginate, however, displayed inconsistent phage activity, potentially due to interactions with other fish spoilage microbiota. Overall, these findings suggest that Vibrio-infecting bacteriophages hold potential as biocontrol agents in active biodegradable coatings and films for fish products. Further research should focus on optimizing phage release and stability across biopolymer matrices to enhance practical applications in food preservation, with emphasis on selecting tailored bacteriophages for effective biocontrol.