Publication: Nanomechanical resilience and thermal stability of RSJ2 phage
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Issued Date
2024-12-01
Resource Type
eISSN
20452322
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85201699905
Pubmed ID
39169068
Journal Title
Scientific Reports
Volume
14
Issue
1
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Scientific Reports Vol.14 No.1 (2024)
Suggested Citation
Sae-Ueng U., Bunsuwansakul C., Showpanish K., Phironrit N., Thadajarassiri J., Nehls C. Nanomechanical resilience and thermal stability of RSJ2 phage. Scientific Reports Vol.14 No.1 (2024). doi:10.1038/s41598-024-70056-8 Retrieved from: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14740/20883
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
As the world moves toward a green economy and sustainable agriculture, bacterial viruses or bacteriophages (phages) become attractive biocontrol agents for controlling crop diseases. Effective utilization of phages in farms requires integrated knowledge of crops, pathogens, phages, and surroundings. Phages must encounter environmental fluctuations, including temperature, and must remain infectious for successful bacteria lysis. This work studied a soilborne RSJ2 phage discovered in Thailand, which can eliminate Ralstonia solanacearum, causing bacterial wilt disease in chili. We investigated how phage infectivity and nanomechanics responded to thermal changes. The plaque-based assay showed that the infectivity of the RSJ2 phage was stable within 24–40 °C, an average temperature fluctuation in tropical regions. The structural examination also showed that the phage remained intact. The nanomechanical property of the phage was inspected by the atomic force microscopy-based nanoindentation. The result revealed that the phage stiffness within 24–40 °C was statistically similar (0.05–0.06 N/m). Upon heating at 40 °C for 1, 5, and 10 h and resting at 25 °C, the stiffness of the phage particles increased to 0.09–0.11 N/m (54–83% increase). The stiffness results suggest structural adaptation of the protein subunits as a response to thermal alteration. The study exhibits that the phage structure is highly dynamic and can nanomechanically respond to varying temperatures. The phage stiffness may reveal insight into phage adaptation to environmental factors. Equipped with the knowledge of phage infectivity, structure, and nanomechanics, we can design practical guidelines for effective phage usage in farming and propelling green and safe agriculture.