Complete genome sequence of Aeromonas phage GomatiRiver_11, a novel T4-like bacteriophage that infects Aeromonas hydrophila

Abstract Motile Aeromonas Septicaemia (MAS) is the most common bacterial fish illness. This is a opportunistic microorganisms that produce hemorrhagic septicaemia and ulcerative diseases in a wide range of aquatic and terrestrial animals, including humans. Antibiotics have been used as a most prevalent control option for MAS in both hatcheries and farms, despite the fact that it not only kill target bacteria but might harm host’s natural habitat and water quality parameters. So urge of using phage therapy among researchers is now increasing. Phages or bacteriophages are viruses that infect and replicate within bacteria and help to decline bacterial growth. In the present study Aeromonas phage GomatiRiver_11 phage has been isolated for the first time from various water bodies of Tripura, India. The whole genome sequence of the phage was found to be 10,390 bp with a total of 9 ORFs. The phylogenetic analysis of the species revealed that this phage is closely related to Aeromonas phage Asfd_1 (MK577502.1). Moreover, the electron microscopy analysis revealed Podoviridae characteristics of characterized phage genome. This new phage genome and its analysis will be essential for phage therapy against MAS affected fish species of Northeast India and associated water bodies.