First practice on bacteriophage-mediated disinfection of tailwater: targeted removal of multidrug-resistant Vibrio parahaemolyticus and associated antibiotic resistance genes

Abstract

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens and associated antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in tailwater pose a threat to public health and food safety. Bacteriophages have emerged as promising biocontrol agents for MDR pathogens, yet their efficacy in disinfecting tailwater for the elimination of MDR pathogens and ARGs remains unexplored. We developed a bacteriophage-mediated disinfection technique for targeted removal of MDR Vibrio parahaemolyticus and ARGs from aquaculture tailwater. A novel lytic Caudoviricetes phage VBY against MDR V. parahaemolyticus was isolated from aquaculture, while its disinfection performance in aquaculture tailwater outperformed ozone (O₃) and ultraviolet (UV) controls. Genomic and phylogenetic analyses identified VBY as a Caudoviricetes, lacking virulence factors and ARGs. The phage VBY exhibited robust stability under aquaculture-relevant environmental conditions and potential activity against biofilms, accompanied by significant ARGs reduction. In the real tailwater treatment system, the phage VBY achieved 5.5-log reduction in MDR bacterial loads and 4–6 log suppression of key ARGs over 72 h. Phage treatment maintained a remarkably long-term inhibitory effect. The phage VBY could preserve water quality during the removal of MDR V. parahaemolyticus, which overcame the key limitation of conventional chemical disinfection strategies. These findings demonstrated that phage-mediated disinfection, which could effectively remove MDR pathogens and the associated ARGs from recycled tailwater, was an environmentally sustainable water treatment technique.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Tailwater / Water disinfection / Bacteriophage / Multidrug resistance / Targeted removal

Highlight

	● Tailwater disinfection for targeting removal of MDR Vibrio and ARGs using phage was developed.
	● A novel lytic Caudoviricetes phage VBY against MDR Vibrio parahaemolyticus was isolated.
	● The disinfection performance of phage VBY outperformed O3 and UV controls.
	● Phage VBY exhibited robust stability under aquaculture-relevant environmental conditions.
	● The findings proved the advantage on recycled tailwater disinfection using phage.

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