Ph.D. candidate
Tran Thi Bich Huy
Faculty of Applied Science and Technology, Nguyen Tat Thanh University; HCMC University of Technology - VNU-HCM
Title: Bacteriophage DT86P2 protects striped catfish against Aeromonas dhakensis infection while preserving gut microbiota stability
Tran Thi Bich Huy1,2, Ho Trong Tuong2, Pham Do Tra My2, Hoang Anh Hoang2
1Faculty of Applied Science and Technology, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Vietnam
2HCMC University of Technology – VNU-HCM, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
The striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) industry in Vietnam faces major economic threats from motile Aeromonas septicemia (MAS) caused by Aeromonas dhakensis, which drives widespread antibiotic use. To address antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in A. dhakensis, we isolated the lytic bacteriophage DT86P2 and evaluated its biological characteristics. We subsequently analysed the phage genome to confirm the absence of AMR or virulence-associated genes, thereby ensuring its biosafety profile. To further investigate the pathogenicity and antimicrobial resistance mechanisms of A. dhakensis A24.18, whole-genome sequencing and comparative genomic analyses were performed. Finally, we established an in vivo catfish model combined with a 16S-rRNA metagenomic approach to evaluate the efficacy of phage DT86P2 against A.dhakensis A24.18 and compared its effects with kanamycin treatment. Notably, prophylactic administration of DT86P2 significantly reduced cumulative mortality in bacterial challenge. Consistent with its targeted antibacterial activity, the phage-treated cohort maintained alpha and beta diversity indices comparable to those of the control groups. These findings demonstrate that DT86P2 effectively controls A. dhakensis during early infection stages while preserving gut microbiota stability, highlighting its potential as a targeted, sustainable alternative to antibiotics for mitigating MAS in aquaculture.
Biography of the presenting author
My name is Tran Thi Bich Huy, and I am currently serving as a lecturer and researcher at the NTT Hi-Tech Institute, Nguyen Tat Thanh University. I hold a degree in Biotechnology from Van Lang University. Subsequently, I earned a Master’s degree in Experimental Biology, specializing in Animal Physiology, from the University of Science in Ho Chi Minh City. During this period, I conducted research on the evaluation and diversity of Phu Quoc Ridgeback dogs and the study of algae. My research has been published in several prestigious journals, including Protist, Applied Science, and the Journal of Animal Husbandry Science and Technology. Currently, I am a PhD student and working on phage therapy projects under the guidance of Associate Professor Hoang Anh Hoang.
Presenting author details
Full name: Tran Thi Bich Huy
Contact number: (+84) 932486599
Email: ttbhuy@ntt.edu.vn/ ttbhuy.sdh2412@hcmut.edu.vn
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Researchgate: Huy Tran | ResearchGate
Google Scholar: Huy Tran Thi Bich – Google Scholar
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Session name/ number: Bioinformatics and microbiome
Category: Poster