# Isolation, complete characterization and phylogeography of the first bacteriophage against Vibrio neocaledonicus, which encodes a pyruvate phosphate dikinase and represents a novel viral family

## TL;DR

A new bacteriophage was isolated and characterized, showing potential as a novel viral family with unique metabolic genes and a specific oceanic distribution.

## Contribution

The discovery of a new viral family, Modirecodeviridae, with a unique pyruvate phosphate dikinase gene and distinct phylogeography.

## Key findings

- The phage vB_VneS_J26 has a 82,477 bp genome with 122 putative ORFs and a siphovirus morphotype.
- It encodes a rare pyruvate phosphate dikinase gene involved in carbon metabolism.
- Phylogenetic analysis suggests it represents a new viral family, Modirecodeviridae, found in Arctic and tropical oceans.

## Abstract

Vibrio are widely distributed in aquatic environments and are major pathogens commonly found in aquaculture environments, playing a significant role in human production activities and maintaining ecological stability. Here, a novel phage, vB_VneS_J26, which infects Vibrio neocaledonicus, was isolated from coastal seawater in Qingdao, China. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that vB_VneS_J26 exhibits siphovirus morphotype, with a linear double-stranded DNA genome of 82,477 bp in length and G+C content of 45.11 mol%, encoding 122 putative ORFs. Three auxiliary metabolic genes related to carbon metabolism and host cell redox processes were identified, including a pyruvate phosphate dikinase, which catalyses the reversible conversion between phosphoenolpyruvate and pyruvate and is rarely detected in viruses. Whole-genome phylogenetic and comparative genomic analyses suggested that vB_VneS_J26 represents a potential novel viral family, comprising six isolated vibriophages, proposed as Modirecodeviridae. Phylogeographic analysis indicated that Modirecodeviridae is primarily distributed in epipelagic and mesopelagic zones of the Arctic and temperate tropical oceans.