Complete genome sequence of Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium bacteriophage SPN1S

To understand the interaction between the host of pathogenic Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium and its bacteriophage, we isolated the bacteriophage SPN1S. It is a lysogenic phage in the Podoviridae family and uses the O-antigen of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) as a host receptor. Comparative genomic analysis of phage SPN1S and the S. enterica serovar Anatum-specific phage ε15 revealed different host specificities, probably due to the low homology of host specificity-related genes. Here we report the complete circular genome sequence of S. Typhimurium-specific bacteriophage SPN1S and show the results of our analysis.     

T7家族噬菌体感染宿主菌的起始——吸附和穿入

噬菌体和细菌互相作用的研究,是分子生物学的重要内容,在细菌感染性疾病的治疗等方面有重要的应用价值。噬菌体的感染从噬菌体吸附于宿主菌表面并将核酸注入开始。介绍了T7家族代表株T7噬菌体在吸附和穿入阶段需要的结构和具体过程,并简要综述了T7家族3个亚群的特征。     

鲍曼不动杆菌裂解性噬菌体LZ35的分离及全基因组分析

目的 通过分离鉴定鲍曼不动杆菌噬菌体并进行遗传信息分析,为今后噬菌体用于治疗鲍曼不动杆菌引起的感染提供依据。方法 以鲍曼不动杆菌临床分离株为宿主菌,从医院污水中分离鲍曼不动杆菌噬菌体并进行纯化、电镜观察形态特征、提取噬菌体DNA,进行全基因组测序,分析全基因组的结构特征,比较基因组分析其进化关系。结果 分离到鲍曼不动杆菌裂解性噬菌体LZ35,电镜观察显示,该噬菌体属于有尾噬菌体目肌尾病毒科。基因组全长44 885 bp,G＋C含量为37.95%,含有83个开放阅读框,其中22个编码序列可预测其功能,61个编码序列为未知基因。噬菌体LZ35的基因组与鲍曼不动杆菌噬菌体IME-AB2和YMC-13-01-C62具有很高的同源性（分别为97%和99%）,与鲍曼不动杆菌噬菌体YMC11/12/R1215的进化关系最近。结论 以鲍曼不动杆菌临床分离株为宿主菌,分离到鲍曼不动杆菌裂解性噬菌体LZ35,明确了其形态和基因组特征,为防治噬菌体疗法奠定基础。     

Isolation and characteristics of the bacteriophage from the vaccine strain Tohama phase I

Some properties of bacteriophage phi T isolated from the vaccine strain Bordetella pertussis Tohama phase I and propagated in Bordetella parapertussis 504 cells are presented. Phage phi T belongs to the IV group in accordance with Tikhonenko classification. The diameter of head and length of noncontractile tail sheath are 49.5 +/- 0.5 and 145 +/- 7 nm, respectively. Diameter of the tail sheath is 3.2 +/- 0.6 nm. Molecular mass of the phage DNA is 37 +/- 3 kb. Population of phi T phage is polymorphous and consists of particles the genomes or which vary from each other by the "insert" located 6.8 +/- 0.6 kb from the end of molecule. The blot hybridization has demonstrated that the bacteriophage genome is not inserted into the chromosome of the lysogenic strain. Autonomous location of the phage genome in the host cell is suggested. The temperature and hydrogen ions concentration effects on bacteriophage phi T stability were studied. The conditions for phage suspension storage are described.     

The adsorption of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteriophage φKMV is dependent on expression regulation of type IV pili genes

Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteriophage φKMV requires type IV pili for infection, as observed from the phenotypic characterization and phage adsorption assays on a phage infection-resistant host strain mutant. A cosmid clone library of the host ( P. aeruginosa PAO1) genomic DNA was generated and used to select for a clone that was able to restore φKMV infection in the resistant mutant. This complementing cosmid also re-established type IV pili-dependent twitching motility. The correlation between bacteriophage φKMV infectivity and type IV pili, along with its associated twitching motility, was confirmed by the resistance of a P. aeruginosa PAO1Δ pilA mutant to the phage. Subcloning of the complementing cosmid and further phage infection analysis and motility assays suggests that a common regulatory mechanism and/or interaction between the ponA and pilMNOPQ gene products are essential for bacteriophage φKMV infectivity.     

Recovery of temperate Desulfovibrio vulgaris bacteriophage using a novel host strain

A novel sulfate-reducing bacterium (strain DePue) closely related to Desulfovibrio vulgaris ssp. vulgaris strain Hildenborough was isolated from the sediment of a heavy-metal impacted lake using established techniques. Although few physiological differences between strains DePue and Hildenborough were observed, pulse-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) revealed a significant genome reduction in strain DePue. Comparative whole-genome microarray and polymerase chain reaction analyses demonstrated that the absence of genes annotated in the Hildenborough genome as phage or phage-related contributed to the significant genome reduction in strain DePue. Two morphotypically distinct temperate bacteriophage from strain Hildenborough were recovered using strain DePue as a host for plaque isolation.     

Control of lysogeny and immunity of Bacillus subtilis temperate bacteriophage SP beta by its d gene.

The d gene from the Bacillus subtilis temperate bacteriophage SP beta was isolated. When introduced into an SP beta-sensitive strain of B. subtilis, the cloned d gene directed the synthesis of a 22-kilodalton protein and conferred on the host immunity to SP beta phage. A frameshift mutation, designated d2, was introduced into the cloned d gene, and it was subsequently crossed back into the SP beta phage genome. The resulting SP beta phage grew lytically and formed clear plaques on sensitive bacteria. Although the cloned d gene confers immunity to the host, we could not detect complementation of the d gene by mixed infection with SP beta d2 and various SP beta c mutants. The nucleotide sequence of the 1,033-base-pair PstI-to-EcoRI fragment containing the d gene was determined; it includes an open reading frame that could potentially encode a protein of 227 amino acids. The gene was mapped within the PstI H fragment on the phage genome, which positions the d gene about 25 kilobases from the right end of the phage genome. It is transcribed from right to left.     

A Bacteriophage-lysing Strain of Staphylococcus Employed in the Manufacture of Dry Sausage

A bacteriophage of a certain Staphylococcus (a strain of Staphylococcus lactis) employed in the manufacture of dry sausage has been characterized. The host range of this bacteriophage is wide. In addition to the original host, 15 other strains (out of 40 strains tested) were found to support reproduction of the phage. The sensitive strains represented Staphylococcus saprophyticus and different types of S. lactis.

The growth rate of the bacterial host did not influence the rates of phage adsorption, nor the maximal reproduction rate of new particles. With increasing bacterial growth rate, the “lag” observed before phage reproduction started was distinctly decreased. This phase was shorter with the original host strain than with other sensitive strains.

Resistant cultures of the original host strain were easily obtained. These cultures grew as rapidly and gave as good yields of cell mass as the original phage-sensitive host. However, phage resistance was frequently lost.

     

The phage P.E1 isolated from hospital sewage reduces the growth of Escherichia coli

This study involves partial characterisation of a lytic bacteriophage P.E₁ against a multi drug-resistant clinical isolate of Escherichia coli, isolated from hospital sewage supply. The phage P.E₁ has showed a narrow host range suitable for its use in phage therapy. Phage showed lytic activity up to 70°C and at alkaline conditions, but at higher acidic conditions its activity decreased. Latent period and burst size of P.E₁ estimated from single-step growth curve was 40 min and 185 plaque-forming units per cell, respectively. The phage P.E₁ reduced the growth of host bacteria during the initial 12?h of infection; however, the host bacteria developed resistance afterwards. During the 24-hour observation period, the bacteriophage could still reduce the growth of its host bacteria evident by lower optical density in the phage-treated samples compared with control. The phage genome was double-stranded DNA and larger than 12?kb in size. Further manipulations of genome and proteins may help to unveil the unique aspects of this phage, to use it in phage therapy against E. coli.     

一株新型裂解K63荚膜型肺炎克雷伯菌的噬菌体分离鉴定和生物学特性研究及全基因组分析

[背景]噬菌体具有特定的杀菌能力,对生态和细菌的进化具有重要影响。近年来由于多重耐药细菌的全球出现,噬菌体疗法逐渐引起了人们的关注。[目的]对一株新型裂解K63荚膜型肺炎克雷伯菌的噬菌体vB_KpnP_IME308进行生物学特性研究、测序和比较基因组学的分析。[方法]以一株从临床分离到的肺炎克雷伯菌为宿主菌分离噬菌体,应用双层平板法进行噬菌体最佳感染复数(optimal multiplicity of infection)、一步生长曲线(one-step growth curve)、温度以及pH敏感性实验测定,纯化噬菌体并通过透射电镜观察噬菌体形态;应用标准的苯酚-氯仿提取方案提取噬菌体全基因组,使用Illumina MiSeq测序平台进行噬菌体全基因组测序,测序后对噬菌体全基因组序列进行组装、注释、进化和比较基因组学分析。[结果]分离到一株新型的肺炎克雷伯菌噬菌体,命名为vB_KpnP_IME308;其最佳感染复数为0.001,一步生长曲线结果显示,其感染宿主菌的潜伏期约为20 min,裂解期约为80 min,平均裂解量330PFU/cell;噬菌体vB_KpnP_IME308在4-50℃和pH 5.0-10.0范围内稳定;电镜观察该噬菌体属于短尾噬菌体科(Podoviridae)。基因组测序结果表明,噬菌体基因组全长为43 091bp,(G+C)mol%含量为53.9%,(A+T)mol%含量为46.1%。BLASTn比对结果表明,该噬菌体与目前已知噬菌体基因组仅84%区域有相似性。噬菌体进化树结果表明该噬菌体属于Autographivirinae亚科的Drulisvirus属的成员。[结论]从医院污水中分离鉴定了一株新型的肺炎克雷伯菌噬菌体,表征并分析了噬菌体全基因组序列,这些结果均表明该噬菌体具有开发为抗肺炎克雷伯菌制剂的潜力,为噬菌体治疗多重耐药细菌感染奠定了基础。     

Viral R plasmid Rphi6P: properties of the penicillinase plasmid prophage and the supercoiled, circular encapsidated genome.

Properties of the viral R plasmid Rphi6P are described. As a temperate bacteriophage, it plaques on the facultative phototroph Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides. Under aerobic conditions the phage had a latent period of 180 min, a burst time of 200 min, and a burst size of 15 to 20 particles per infective center. The encapsidated viral genome occurred as a supercoiled, circular DNA duplex with a mean contour length of 16.5 +/- 10 micron. Percent guanine plus cytosine, as calculated from thermal denaturation profiles, was 63.5. Mitomycin C-induced loss of the prophage suggested an extrachromosomal location in the host cell. Use of this curing agent enabled the isolation of a plasmid-free strain of R. sphaeroides. Biophysical analysis of the plasmid-free strain lysogenized with Rphi6P confirmed that the prophage occurred as a plasmid in the host cell.     

Complete Genome Sequence of Phytopathogenic Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum Bacteriophage PP1

Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum is a phytopathogen causing soft rot disease on diverse plant species. To control this plant pathogen, P. carotovorum subsp. carotovorum-targeting bacteriophage PP1 was isolated and its genome was completely sequenced to develop a novel biocontrol agent. Interestingly, the 44,400-bp genome sequence does not encode any gene involved in the formation of lysogen, suggesting that this phage may be very useful as a biocontrol agent because it does not make lysogen after host infection. This is the first report on the complete genome sequence of the P. carotovorum subsp. carotovorum-targeting bacteriophage, and it will enhance our understanding of the interaction between phytopathogens and their targeting bacteriophages.     

Complete Genome Sequence of Caulobacter crescentus Bacteriophage {varphi}CbK

?CbK is a B3 morphotype bacteriophage of the Siphoviridae family that infects Caulobacter crescentus, the preeminent model system for bacterial cell cycle studies. The last 4 decades of research with ?CbK as a genetic and cytological tool to study the biology of the host warrant an investigation of the phage genome composition. Herein, we report the complete genome sequence of ?CbK and highlight unusual features that emerged from its annotation. The complete genome analysis of the ?CbK phage provides new insight into its characteristics and potential interactions with its Caulobacter crescentus host, setting the stage for future functional studies with ?CbK.     

Genome, integration, and transduction of a novel temperate phage of Helicobacter pylori

Helicobacter pylori is a common human pathogen that has been identified to be carcinogenic. This study isolated the temperate bacteriophage 1961P from the lysate of a clinical strain of H. pylori isolated in Taiwan. The bacteriophage has an icosahedral head and a short tail, typical of the Podoviridae family. Its double-stranded DNA genome is 26,836 bp long and has 33 open reading frames. Only 9 of the predicted proteins have homologs of known functions, while the remaining 24 are only similar to unknown proteins encoded by Helicobacter prophages and remnants. Analysis of sequences proximal to the phage-host junctions suggests that 1961P may integrate into the host chromosome via a mechanism similar to that of bacteriophage lambda. In addition, 1961P is capable of generalized transduction. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the isolation, characterization, genome analysis, integration, and transduction of a Helicobacter pylori phage.     

Complete Genome Sequence of Bacteriophage BC-611 Specifically Infecting Enterococcus faecalis Strain NP-10011

Enterococcus faecalis is an opportunistic pathogen that causes serious infections in humans and animals and is also an important bacterium for dairy and probiotic supplement production. Therefore, bacteriophages infecting E. faecalis may be useful for phage therapy against multidrug-resistant strains or may threaten industrial fermentation. We isolated a virulent Siphoviridae bacteriophage, BC-611, specifically infecting E. faecalis strain NP-10011 but not infecting other E. faecalis strains or other enterococci. Although the genome sequence of BC-611 resembled that of enterococcal bacteriophage SAP6, BC-611 was marked by its narrow host specificity.     

Genetic basis of infectivity evolution in a bacteriophage

Antagonistic coevolution between hosts and parasites is probably ubiquitous. However, very little is known of the genetic changes associated with parasite infectivity evolution during adaptation to a coevolving host. We followed the phenotypic and genetic changes in a lytic virus population (bacteriophage; phage Φ2) that coevolved with its bacterial host, Pseudomonas fluorescens SBW25. First, we show the rapid evolution of numerous unique phage infectivity phenotypes, and that both phage host range and bacterial resistance to individual phage increased over coevolutionary time. Second, each of the distinct phage phenotypes in our study had a unique genotype, and molecular evolution did not act uniformly across the phage genome during coevolution. In particular, we detected numerous substitutions on the tail fibre gene, which is involved in the first step of the host-parasite interaction: host adsorption. None of the observed mutations could be directly linked with infection against a particular host, suggesting that the phenotypic effects of infectivity mutations are probably epistatic. However, phage genotypes with the broadest host ranges had the largest number of nonsynonymous amino acid changes on genes implicated in infectivity evolution. An understanding of the molecular genetics of phage infectivity has helped to explain the complex phenotypic coevolutionary dynamics in this system.     

Genome of a virulent bacteriophage Lb338-1 that lyses the probiotic Lactobacillus paracasei cheese strain

There is a lack of fundamental knowledge about the influence of bacteriophage on probiotic bacteria and other commensals in the gut. Here, we present the isolation and morphological and genetic characterization of a virulent narrow-host-range bacteriophage, φLb338-1. This phage was isolated from fresh sewage and was shown to infect the probiotic cheese strain Lactobacillus paracasei NFBC 338. Electron microscopy studies revealed that φLb338-1 is a member of the Myoviridae family, with an isometric head, a medium-sized contractile tail, and a complex base plate. Genome sequencing revealed a 142-kb genome with 199 open reading frames. Putative functions could be assigned to 22% of the open reading frames; these had significant homology to genes found in the broad-host-range SPO1-like group of phages which includes the Enterococcus faecalis phage φEF24C, Listeria phage A511, and Lactobacillus plantarum phage LP65. Interestingly, no significant genomic similarity was observed between the phage and the probiotic host strain. Future studies will determine if the presence of bacteriophage φLb338-1 or others in the human or animal gut plays an antagonistic role against the probiotic effect of beneficial bacteria.     

The ectodomain of the viral receptor YueB forms a fiber that triggers ejection of bacteriophage SPP1 DNA

The irreversible binding of bacteriophages to their receptor(s) in the host cell surface triggers release of the naked genome from the virion followed by transit of viral DNA to the host cell cytoplasm. We have purified, for the first time, a receptor from a Gram-positive bacterium that is active to trigger viral DNA ejection in vitro. This extracellular region ("ectodomain") of the Bacillus subtilis protein YueB (YueB780) was a 7 S elongated dimer forming a 36.5-nm-long fiber. YueB780 bound to the tail tip of bacteriophage SPP1. Although a stable receptor-phage interaction occurred between 0 and 37 degrees C, complete blocking of phage DNA release or partial ejection events were observed at temperatures below 15 degrees C. We also showed that the receptor was exposed to the B. subtilis surface. YueB differed structurally from phage receptors from Gram-negative bacteria. Its properties revealed a fiber spanning the full length of the 30-nm-thick peptidoglycan layer. The fiber is predicted to be anchored in the cell membrane through transmembrane segments. These features, highly suitable for a virus receptor in Gram-positive bacteria, are very likely shared by a large number of phage receptors.