Experimental bacteriophage-mediated virulence in strains of Vibrio harveyi

Vibriosis is a major disease problem in prawn aquaculture. Until now there has been no clear explanation why some strains of Vibrio are pathogenic, while others are not. This study demonstrated that the presence of the bacteriophage V harveyi myovirus like (VHML) may confer virulence to V harveyi Strain 642. This was demonstrated by infecting naive avirulent V. harveyi Strains 12, 20, 45 and 645 with the bacteriophage and converting them into virulent strains. The previously naive strains of Vibrio infected with Bacteriophage VHML from V. harveyi Strain 642 demonstrated upregulation of haemolysin, up-regulation of protein excretion, additional proteins which were recognised as toxic proteins from Strain 642 by monoclonal antibodies specific to the exotoxin sub-units, and a significant increase in mortality of larval Penaeus monodon. It was concluded that Bacteriophage VHML conferred virulence to V harveyi Strains 12, 20, 45 and 645 and that Bacteriophage VHML either fully or partly confers virulence in V harveyi Strain 642.