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Genomic Characterization of Twelve Lytic Bacteriophages Infecting Midgut Bacteria of Aedes aegypti

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Abstract

Mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue are global severe public health threats. Due to the lack of efficient control methods, alternative approaches to decreasing arboviral transmitted diseases are prioritized to reduce morbidity and mortality in every endemic region. Mosquito midgut bacteria play an essential role in physiological development, fitness, and the arthropods´ vectorial capacity. Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria and are considered a promising biocontrol method by eliminating midgut microbiota that plays an essential role in mosquitoes´ health. Here, we isolate and identify 22 bacteria from mosquito´s midgut belonging to the genera Mesobacillus, Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Microbacterium, Micrococcus, Pantoea, Serratia, and Staphylococcus, mainly. Twelve phages with lytic activity against Enterobacter, Klebsiella, and Pantoea were also isolated. All 12 phages showed a double-stranded DNA genome, ranging from 36,790 to 149,913 bp, and were taxonomically classified as members of the Drexlerviridae family, Molineuxvirinae, Studiervirinae, and Vequintavirinae subfamilies. Open reading frames associated with phage structure, packing, host lysis, DNA metabolism, and additional functions were predicted in all 12 phage genomes, while tRNAs were predicted in five phage genomes. In addition, the life cycle was predicted as virulent for the 12 phages, and no antibiotic resistance, virulence, allergenic, or lysogenic genes were found in either genome. These findings suggest that the 12 phages have biocontrol potentials; however, it is necessary to elucidate specific bacterial host’s roles and then the phages' ability to serve as effective vector control.

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Data Availability

The nucleotide sequence data reported here are available in the GenBank database under the accession numbers OL744209-OL744220 (phage genomes), and OP492053-OP492074 (Bacteria 16S rRNA seq).

Code Availability

Not applicable.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank MSc. Eduardo Heriberto López Guerrero for his technical assistance.

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This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or nonprofit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratorio Nacional Para La Investigación en Inocuidad Alimentaria (LANIIA), Centro de Investigación en Alimentación Y Desarrollo, A.C. (CIAD), Carretera a Eldorado Km 5.5, Campo El Diez, 80110, Culiacán, Sinaloa, México

    Osvaldo López-Cuevas, Jean P. González-Gómez, José R. Aguirre-Sánchez, Célida I. Martínez-Rodríguez, Nohelia Castro-del Campo & Cristóbal Chaidez

  2. Centro de Investigación en Alimentación Y Desarrollo, A.C. (CIAD), Unidad Mazatlán en Acuicultura Y Manejo Ambiental, 711, Mazatlán, Sinaloa, México

    Bruno Gomez-Gil

  3. Laboratorio de Conservación de La Fauna Silvestre, Facultad de Biología, Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa. Avenida de Las Américas Y Boulevard Universitarios S/N, 80010, Culiacán, Sinaloa, México

    Edith H. Torres-Montoya

  4. Investigadoras e Investigadores Por México-Centro de Investigación en Alimentación Y Desarrollo A.C, Coordinación Regional Culiacán. Laboratorio Nacional Para La Investigación en Inocuidad Alimentaria, Sinaloa, México

    José A. Medrano-Félix

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Contributions

OL-C: Conceptualization, Methodology, Writing—Original draft, Formal analysis. JPG-G: Conceptualization, Formal analysis, Methodology, Visualization. JRA-S: Formal analysis, Methodology, Data Curation. BG-G: Methodology, Validation, Writing—review & editing. EHT-M: Methodology, Writing—review & editing. JAM-F: Methodology, Formal analysis, Writing—review & editing. CIM-R: Project administration, Writing—review & editing. NC-dC: Resources, Methodology, Investigation, Writing—review & editing. CC: Conceptualization, Funding acquisition, Validation, Writing—review & editing.

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Correspondence to Cristóbal Chaidez.

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López-Cuevas, O., González-Gómez, J.P., Aguirre-Sánchez, J.R. et al. Genomic Characterization of Twelve Lytic Bacteriophages Infecting Midgut Bacteria of Aedes aegypti. Curr Microbiol 79, 385 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-022-03092-0

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