A Review of Cyanophage-Host Relationships: Highlighting Cyanophages as a Potential Cyanobacteria Control Strategy

Christopher R Grasso; Kaytee L Pokrzywinski; Christopher Waechter; Taylor Rycroft; Yanyan Zhang; Alyssa Aligata; Michael Kramer; Anisha Lamsal

doi:10.3390/toxins14060385

A Review of Cyanophage-Host Relationships: Highlighting Cyanophages as a Potential Cyanobacteria Control Strategy

Toxins (Basel). 2022 May 31;14(6):385. doi: 10.3390/toxins14060385.

Authors

Christopher R Grasso¹, Kaytee L Pokrzywinski^{2

3}, Christopher Waechter⁴, Taylor Rycroft², Yanyan Zhang⁵, Alyssa Aligata⁴, Michael Kramer⁴, Anisha Lamsal⁴

Affiliations

¹ Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, 3909 Halls Ferry Rd, Vicksburg, MS 39180, USA.
² Environmental Laboratory, US Army Engineer Research and Development Center, 3909 Halls Ferry Rd, Vicksburg, MS 39180, USA.
³ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, 101 Pivers Island Rd, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA.
⁴ US Bureau of Reclamation, Denver Federal Center, P.O. Box 25007, Denver, CO 80225, USA.
⁵ Civil Engineering Department, New Mexico State University, 1780 E University Ave, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA.

Abstract

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are naturally occurring phenomena, and cyanobacteria are the most commonly occurring HABs in freshwater systems. Cyanobacteria HABs (cyanoHABs) negatively affect ecosystems and drinking water resources through the production of potent toxins. Furthermore, the frequency, duration, and distribution of cyanoHABs are increasing, and conditions that favor cyanobacteria growth are predicted to increase in the coming years. Current methods for mitigating cyanoHABs are generally short-lived and resource-intensive, and have negative impacts on non-target species. Cyanophages (viruses that specifically target cyanobacteria) have the potential to provide a highly specific control strategy with minimal impacts on non-target species and propagation in the environment. A detailed review (primarily up to 2020) of cyanophage lifecycle, diversity, and factors influencing infectivity is provided in this paper, along with a discussion of cyanophage and host cyanobacteria relationships for seven prominent cyanoHAB-forming genera in North America, including: Synechococcus, Microcystis, Dolichospermum, Aphanizomenon, Cylindrospermopsis, Planktothrix, and Lyngbya. Lastly, factors affecting the potential application of cyanophages as a cyanoHAB control strategy are discussed, including efficacy considerations, optimization, and scalability for large-scale applications.

Keywords: cyanobacteria; cyanophage; harmful algal bloom management; phages.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Aphanizomenon* / virology
Bacteriophages*
Ecosystem
Harmful Algal Bloom*
Host-Pathogen Interactions
Microcystis* / virology
Synechococcus* / virology

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Aquatic Nuisance Species Research Program of the US Army Engineer Research and Development Center grant number AMSCO008284 WIC94J714. The funding source had no part in the study design, data collection/analysis, or preparation of the manuscript. This work was supported by the Science and Technology division of the Technology Services Center, a part of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Department of Interior. The funding source had no part in the study design, data collection/analysis, or preparation of the manuscript.