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Wu Q, An N, Fang Z, Li S, Xiang L, Liu Q, Tan L, Weng Q. Characteristics and whole-genome analysis of a novel Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato bacteriophage D6 isolated from a karst cave. Virus Genes 2024; 60:295-308. [PMID: 38594490 PMCID: PMC11139720 DOI: 10.1007/s11262-024-02064-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Pseudomonas syringae is a gram-negative plant pathogen that infects plants such as tomato and poses a threat to global crop production. In this study, a novel lytic phage infecting P. syringae pv. tomato DC3000, named phage D6, was isolated and characterized from sediments in a karst cave. The latent period of phage D6 was found to be 60 min, with a burst size of 16 plaque-forming units per cell. Phage D6 was stable at temperatures between 4 and 40 °C but lost infectivity when heated to 70 °C. Its infectivity was unaffected at pH 6-10 but became inactivated at pH ≤ 5 or ≥ 12. The genome of phage D6 is a linear double-stranded DNA of 307,402 bp with a G + C content of 48.43%. There is a codon preference between phage D6 and its host, and the translation of phage D6 gene may not be entirely dependent on the tRNA library provided by the host. A total of 410 open reading frames (ORFs) and 14 tRNAs were predicted in its genome, with 92 ORFs encoding proteins with predicted functions. Phage D6 showed low genomic similarity to known phage genomes in the GenBank and Viral sequence databases. Genomic and phylogenetic analyses revealed that phage D6 is a novel phage. The tomato plants were first injected with phage D6, and subsequently with Pst DC3000, using the foliar spraying and root drenching inoculum approach. Results obtained after 14 days indicated that phage D6 inoculation decreased P. syringae-induced symptoms in tomato leaves and inhibited the pathogen's growth in the leaves. The amount of Pst DC3000 was reduced by 150- and 263-fold, respectively. In conclusion, the lytic phage D6 identified in this study belongs to a novel phage within the Caudoviricetes class and has potential for use in biological control of plant diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingshan Wu
- School of Life Sciences, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, 550025, People's Republic of China
| | - Ni An
- School of Life Sciences, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, 550025, People's Republic of China
| | - Zheng Fang
- School of Life Sciences, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, 550025, People's Republic of China
| | - Shixia Li
- School of Life Sciences, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, 550025, People's Republic of China
| | - Lan Xiang
- Qiannan Normal College for Nationalities, Duyun, 558000, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiuping Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, 550025, People's Republic of China
| | - Leitao Tan
- School of Life Sciences, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, 550025, People's Republic of China
| | - Qingbei Weng
- School of Life Sciences, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, 550025, People's Republic of China.
- Qiannan Normal College for Nationalities, Duyun, 558000, People's Republic of China.
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Valadez-Cano C, Reyes-Prieto A, Lawrence J. Novel virulent and temperate cyanophages predicted to infect Microcoleus associated with anatoxin-producing benthic mats. Environ Microbiol 2023; 25:3319-3332. [PMID: 37849433 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
Cyanophages are crucial for regulating cyanobacterial populations, but their influence on anatoxin-producing Microcoleus mat dynamics remains unexplored. Here, we use metagenomics to explore phage presence in benthic mats from the Wolastoq|Saint John River (New Brunswick, Canada) and the Eel River (California, USA). We recovered multiple viral-like sequences associated with different putative bacterial hosts, including two cyanophage genomes with apparently different replication strategies. A temperate cyanophage was found integrated in the genomes of Microcoleus sp. 3 recovered from the Eel River and is phylogenetically related to Phormidium phages. We also recovered novel virulent cyanophage genomes from Wolastoq and Eel River mats that were dominated by anatoxin-producing Microcoleus species predicted to be the host. Despite the geographical distance, these genomes have similar sizes (circa 239 kbp) and share numerous orthologous genes with high sequence identity. A considerable reduction of the anatoxin-producing Microcoleus species in Wolastoq mats following the emergence of the virulent phage suggests that phage infections have an important role in limiting the abundance of this toxigenic cyanobacterium and releasing anatoxins into the surrounding water. Our results constitute the first report of cyanophages predicted to infect mat-forming Microcoleus species associated with anatoxin production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilio Valadez-Cano
- Department of Biology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - Adrian Reyes-Prieto
- Department of Biology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - Janice Lawrence
- Department of Biology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
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da Silva JD, Melo LDR, Santos SB, Kropinski AM, Xisto MF, Dias RS, da Silva Paes I, Vieira MS, Soares JJF, Porcellato D, da Silva Duarte V, de Paula SO. Genomic and proteomic characterization of vB_SauM-UFV_DC4, a novel Staphylococcus jumbo phage. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 107:7231-7250. [PMID: 37741937 PMCID: PMC10638138 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12743-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most relevant mastitis pathogens in dairy cattle, and the acquisition of antimicrobial resistance genes presents a significant health issue in both veterinary and human fields. Among the different strategies to tackle S. aureus infection in livestock, bacteriophages have been thoroughly investigated in the last decades; however, few specimens of the so-called jumbo phages capable of infecting S. aureus have been described. Herein, we report the biological, genomic, and structural proteomic features of the jumbo phage vB_SauM-UFV_DC4 (DC4). DC4 exhibited a remarkable killing activity against S. aureus isolated from the veterinary environment and stability at alkaline conditions (pH 4 to 12). The complete genome of DC4 is 263,185 bp (GC content: 25%), encodes 263 predicted CDSs (80% without an assigned function), 1 tRNA (Phe-tRNA), multisubunit RNA polymerase, and an RNA-dependent DNA polymerase. Moreover, comparative analysis revealed that DC4 can be considered a new viral species belonging to a new genus DC4 and showed a similar set of lytic proteins and depolymerase activity with closely related jumbo phages. The characterization of a new S. aureus jumbo phage increases our understanding of the diversity of this group and provides insights into the biotechnological potential of these viruses. KEY POINTS: • vB_SauM-UFV_DC4 is a new viral species belonging to a new genus within the class Caudoviricetes. • vB_SauM-UFV_DC4 carries a set of RNA polymerase subunits and an RNA-directed DNA polymerase. • vB_SauM-UFV_DC4 and closely related jumbo phages showed a similar set of lytic proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jéssica Duarte da Silva
- Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Viçosa, Av. Peter Henry Rolfs, S/N, Campus Universitário, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Luís D R Melo
- Centre of Biological Engineering - CEB, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- LABBELS - Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - Sílvio B Santos
- Centre of Biological Engineering - CEB, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- LABBELS - Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - Andrew M Kropinski
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Mariana Fonseca Xisto
- Department of General Biology, Federal University of Viçosa, Av. Peter Henry Rolfs, S/N, Campus Universitário, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Roberto Sousa Dias
- Department of General Biology, Federal University of Viçosa, Av. Peter Henry Rolfs, S/N, Campus Universitário, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Isabela da Silva Paes
- Department of General Biology, Federal University of Viçosa, Av. Peter Henry Rolfs, S/N, Campus Universitário, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Marcella Silva Vieira
- Department of General Biology, Federal University of Viçosa, Av. Peter Henry Rolfs, S/N, Campus Universitário, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, 36570-900, Brazil
| | - José Júnior Ferreira Soares
- Department of General Biology, Federal University of Viçosa, Av. Peter Henry Rolfs, S/N, Campus Universitário, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Davide Porcellato
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, 1432, Ås, Norway
| | - Vinícius da Silva Duarte
- Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Viçosa, Av. Peter Henry Rolfs, S/N, Campus Universitário, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, 36570-900, Brazil.
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, 1432, Ås, Norway.
| | - Sérgio Oliveira de Paula
- Department of General Biology, Federal University of Viçosa, Av. Peter Henry Rolfs, S/N, Campus Universitário, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, 36570-900, Brazil
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Mass Spectral Analyses of Salmonella Myovirus SPN3US Reveal Conserved and Divergent Themes in Proteolytic Maturation of Large Icosahedral Capsids. Viruses 2023; 15:v15030723. [PMID: 36992431 PMCID: PMC10052503 DOI: 10.3390/v15030723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Salmonella myovirus SPN3US has a T = 27 capsid composed of >50 different gene products, including many that are packaged along with the 240 kb genome and ejected into the host cell. Recently, we showed that an essential phage-encoded prohead protease gp245 is responsible for cleavage of proteins during SPN3US head assembly. This proteolytic maturation step induces major changes in precursor head particles, enabling them to expand and undergo genome packaging. To comprehensively define the composition of the mature SPN3US head and elucidate how it is modified by proteolysis during assembly, we conducted tandem mass spectrometry analysis of purified virions and tailless heads. Fourteen protease cleavage sites were identified in nine proteins, including eight sites not previously identified in head proteins in vivo. Among these was the maturation cleavage site of gp245 which was identical to the autocleavage site we had previously identified in purified recombinant gp245. Our findings underscore the value of employing multiple mass spectrometry-based experimental strategies as a way to enhance the detection of head protein cleavage sites in tailed phages. In addition, our results have identified a conserved set of head proteins in related giant phages that are similarly cleaved by their respective prohead proteases, suggesting that these proteins have important roles in governing the formation and function of large icosahedral capsids.
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Friedrich I, Hertel R. Isolation of a Host-Confined Phage Metagenome Allows the Detection of Phages Both Capable and Incapable of Plaque Formation. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2555:195-203. [PMID: 36306088 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2795-2_14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Bacteriophages, also called phages, are viruses of bacteria. They are the most common and diverse biological entities on this planet. For metagenomic investigation, their diversity is also their biggest obstacle. The direct metagenomic sequence of environmental phage communities often leads to short genomic fragments limiting the investigation to a few individual aspects of phage biology and diversity.The presented protocol for generating a host-associated metagenome reduces the phage diversity to a concise and accessible size. Metagenome sequencing often leads to complete genomes, and the availability of a suitable host system ensures further experimental investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ines Friedrich
- Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Georg August University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Robert Hertel
- Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Georg August University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
- Institute of Biotechnology, BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, Senftenberg, Germany.
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6
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Ouyang R, Costa AR, Cassidy CK, Otwinowska A, Williams VCJ, Latka A, Stansfeld PJ, Drulis-Kawa Z, Briers Y, Pelt DM, Brouns SJJ, Briegel A. High-resolution reconstruction of a Jumbo-bacteriophage infecting capsulated bacteria using hyperbranched tail fibers. Nat Commun 2022; 13:7241. [PMID: 36433970 PMCID: PMC9700779 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34972-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The Klebsiella jumbo myophage ϕKp24 displays an unusually complex arrangement of tail fibers interacting with a host cell. In this study, we combine cryo-electron microscopy methods, protein structure prediction methods, molecular simulations, microbiological and machine learning approaches to explore the capsid, tail, and tail fibers of ϕKp24. We determine the structure of the capsid and tail at 4.1 Å and 3.0 Å resolution. We observe the tail fibers are branched and rearranged dramatically upon cell surface attachment. This complex configuration involves fourteen putative tail fibers with depolymerase activity that provide ϕKp24 with the ability to infect a broad panel of capsular polysaccharide (CPS) types of Klebsiella pneumoniae. Our study provides structural and functional insight into how ϕKp24 adapts to the variable surfaces of capsulated bacterial pathogens, which is useful for the development of phage therapy approaches against pan-drug resistant K. pneumoniae strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruochen Ouyang
- grid.43169.390000 0001 0599 1243MOE Key Laboratory for Nonequilibrium Synthesis and Modulation of Condensed Matter, School of Physics, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xianning West Road 28, Xi’an, 710049 China ,grid.5132.50000 0001 2312 1970Department of Microbial Sciences, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Ana Rita Costa
- grid.5292.c0000 0001 2097 4740Department of Bionanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands ,grid.5292.c0000 0001 2097 4740Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - C. Keith Cassidy
- grid.4991.50000 0004 1936 8948Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Aleksandra Otwinowska
- grid.8505.80000 0001 1010 5103Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, University of Wroclaw, Przybyszewskiego 63-77, 51-148 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Vera C. J. Williams
- grid.5132.50000 0001 2312 1970Department of Microbial Sciences, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Agnieszka Latka
- grid.8505.80000 0001 1010 5103Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, University of Wroclaw, Przybyszewskiego 63-77, 51-148 Wroclaw, Poland ,grid.5342.00000 0001 2069 7798Department of Biotechnology, Ghent University, Valentin Vaerwyckweg 1, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Phill J. Stansfeld
- grid.7372.10000 0000 8809 1613School of Life Sciences & Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL UK
| | - Zuzanna Drulis-Kawa
- grid.8505.80000 0001 1010 5103Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, University of Wroclaw, Przybyszewskiego 63-77, 51-148 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Yves Briers
- grid.5342.00000 0001 2069 7798Department of Biotechnology, Ghent University, Valentin Vaerwyckweg 1, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Daniël M. Pelt
- grid.5132.50000 0001 2312 1970Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science, Leiden University, Niels Bohrweg 1, 2333CA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Stan J. J. Brouns
- grid.5292.c0000 0001 2097 4740Department of Bionanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands ,grid.5292.c0000 0001 2097 4740Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Ariane Briegel
- grid.5132.50000 0001 2312 1970Department of Microbial Sciences, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE Leiden, The Netherlands
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Infection strategy and biogeography distinguish cosmopolitan groups of marine jumbo bacteriophages. THE ISME JOURNAL 2022; 16:1657-1667. [PMID: 35260829 PMCID: PMC9123017 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-022-01214-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Recent research has underscored the immense diversity and key biogeochemical roles of large DNA viruses in the ocean. Although they are important constituents of marine ecosystems, it is sometimes difficult to detect these viruses due to their large size and complex genomes. This is true for "jumbo" bacteriophages, which have genome sizes >200 kbp and large capsids reaching up to 0.45 µm in diameter. In this study, we sought to assess the genomic diversity and distribution of these bacteriophages in the ocean by generating and analyzing jumbo phage genomes from metagenomes. We recover 85 marine jumbo phages that ranged in size from 201 to 498 kilobases, and we examine their genetic similarities and biogeography together with a reference database of marine jumbo phage genomes. By analyzing Tara Oceans metagenomic data, we show that although most jumbo phages can be detected in a range of different size fractions, 17 of our bins tend to be found in those greater than 0.22 µm, potentially due to their large size. Our network-based analysis of gene-sharing patterns reveals that jumbo bacteriophages belong to five genome clusters that are typified by diverse replication strategies, genomic repertoires, and potential host ranges. Our analysis of jumbo phage distributions in the ocean reveals that depth is a major factor shaping their biogeography, with some phage genome clusters occurring preferentially in either surface or mesopelagic waters, respectively. Taken together, our findings indicate that jumbo phages are widespread community members in the ocean with complex genomic repertoires and ecological impacts that warrant further targeted investigation.
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Phenotypic and Genomic Comparison of Klebsiella pneumoniae Lytic Phages: vB_KpnM-VAC66 and vB_KpnM-VAC13. Viruses 2021; 14:v14010006. [PMID: 35062209 PMCID: PMC8778798 DOI: 10.3390/v14010006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Klebsiella pneumoniae is a human pathogen that worsens the prognosis of many immunocompromised patients. Here, we annotated and compared the genomes of two lytic phages that infect clinical strains of K. pneumoniae (vB_KpnM-VAC13 and vB_KpnM-VAC66) and phenotypically characterized vB_KpnM-VAC66 (time of adsorption of 12 min, burst size of 31.49 ± 0.61 PFU/infected cell, and a host range of 20.8% of the tested strains). Transmission electronic microscopy showed that vB_KpnM-VAC66 belongs to the Myoviridae family. The genomic analysis of the phage vB_KpnM-VAC66 revealed that its genome encoded 289 proteins. When compared to the genome of vB_KpnM-VAC13, they showed a nucleotide similarity of 97.56%, with a 93% of query cover, and the phylogenetic study performed with other Tevenvirinae phages showed a close common ancestor. However, there were 21 coding sequences which differed. Interestingly, the main differences were that vB_KpnM-VAC66 encoded 10 more homing endonucleases than vB_KpnM-VAC13, and that the nucleotidic and amino-acid sequences of the L-shaped tail fiber protein were highly dissimilar, leading to different three-dimensional protein predictions. Both phages differed significantly in their host range. These viruses may be useful in the development of alternative therapies to antibiotics or as a co-therapy increasing its antimicrobial potential, especially when addressing multidrug resistant (MDR) pathogens.
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Kohm K, Basu S, Nawaz MM, Hertel R. Chances and limitations when uncovering essential and non-essential genes of Bacillus subtilis phages with CRISPR-Cas9. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2021; 13:934-944. [PMID: 34465000 DOI: 10.1111/1758-2229.13005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Virulent bacterial viruses, also known as phages or bacteriophages, are considered as a potential option to fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria. However, their biology is still poorly understood, and only a fraction of phage genes is assigned with a function. To enable the first classification, we explored new options to test phage genes for their requirement on viral replication. As a model, we used the smallest known Bacillus subtilis phage Goe1, and the Cas9-based mutagenesis vector pRH030 as a genetic tool. All phage genes were specifically disrupted, and individual survival rates and mutant genotypes were investigated. Surviving phages relied on the genome integrity through host intrinsic non-homologues end joining system or a natural alteration of the Cas9 target sequence. Quantification of phage survivors and verifying the underlying genetic situation enables the classification of genes in essential or non-essential sets for viral replication. We also observed structural genes to hold more natural mutations than genes of the genome replication machinery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Kohm
- FG Synthetic Microbiology, Institute for Biotechnology, BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, Senftenberg, 01968, Germany
- Genomic and Applied Microbiology and Göttingen Genomics Laboratory, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Georg-August University Göttingen, Göttingen, 37077, Germany
| | - Syamantak Basu
- FG Synthetic Microbiology, Institute for Biotechnology, BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, Senftenberg, 01968, Germany
| | - Muhammad M Nawaz
- FG Synthetic Microbiology, Institute for Biotechnology, BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, Senftenberg, 01968, Germany
| | - Robert Hertel
- FG Synthetic Microbiology, Institute for Biotechnology, BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, Senftenberg, 01968, Germany
- Genomic and Applied Microbiology and Göttingen Genomics Laboratory, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Georg-August University Göttingen, Göttingen, 37077, Germany
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10
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Ahmad AA, Addy HS, Huang Q. Biological and Molecular Characterization of a Jumbo Bacteriophage Infecting Plant Pathogenic Ralstonia solanacearum Species Complex Strains. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:741600. [PMID: 34646257 PMCID: PMC8504454 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.741600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A jumbo phage infecting Ralstonia solanacearum species complex strains, designated RsoM2USA, was isolated from soil of a tomato field in Florida, United States, and belongs to the family Myoviridae. The phage has a long latent period of 270 min and completed its infection cycle in 360 min with a burst size of approximately 32 particles per cell. With a genome size of 343,806 bp, phage RsoM2USA is the largest Ralstonia-infecting phage sequenced and reported to date. Out of the 486 ORFs annotated for RsoM2USA, only 80 could be assigned putative functions in replication, transcription, translation including 44 tRNAs, and structure with the main structural proteins experimentally confirmed. Phylogenetic analyses placed RsoM2USA in the same clade as Xanthomonas phage XacN1, prompting a proposal of a new genus for the two jumbo phages. Jumbo phage RsoM2USA is a lytic phage and has a wide host range, infecting each of the three newly established Ralstonia species: R. solanacearum, R. pseudosolanacearum, and R. syzygii, and significantly reduced the virulence of its susceptible R. solanacearum strain RUN302 in tomato plants, suggesting that this jumbo phage has the potential to be developed into an effective control against diseases caused by R. solanacearum species complex strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdelmonim Ali Ahmad
- Floral and Nursery Plants Research Unit, United States National Arboretum, United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, MD, United States
- Department of Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, Minia University, El-Minia, Egypt
| | - Hardian Susilo Addy
- Floral and Nursery Plants Research Unit, United States National Arboretum, United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, MD, United States
- Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Jember, Jember, Indonesia
| | - Qi Huang
- Floral and Nursery Plants Research Unit, United States National Arboretum, United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, MD, United States
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Erickson S, Paulson J, Brown M, Hahn W, Gil J, Barron-Montenegro R, Moreno-Switt AI, Eisenberg M, Nguyen MM. Isolation and engineering of a Listeria grayi bacteriophage. Sci Rep 2021; 11:18947. [PMID: 34556683 PMCID: PMC8460666 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-98134-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The lack of bacteriophages capable of infecting the Listeria species, Listeria grayi, is academically intriguing and presents an obstacle to the development of bacteriophage-based technologies for Listeria. We describe the isolation and engineering of a novel L. grayi bacteriophage, LPJP1, isolated from farm silage. With a genome over 200,000 base pairs, LPJP1 is the first and only reported jumbo bacteriophage infecting the Listeria genus. Similar to other Gram-positive jumbo phages, LPJP1 appeared to contain modified base pairs, which complicated initial attempts to obtain genomic sequence using standard methods. Following successful sequencing with a modified approach, a recombinant of LPJP1 encoding the NanoLuc luciferase was engineered using homologous recombination. This luciferase reporter bacteriophage successfully detected 100 stationary phase colony forming units of both subspecies of L. grayi in four hours. A single log phase colony forming unit was also sufficient for positive detection in the same time period. The recombinant demonstrated complete specificity for this particular Listeria species and did not infect 150 non-L. grayi Listeria strains nor any other bacterial genus. LPJP1 is believed to be the first reported lytic bacteriophage of L. grayi as well as the only jumbo bacteriophage to be successfully engineered into a luciferase reporter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Erickson
- Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, New Brighton, MN, 55112, USA.
| | - John Paulson
- Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, New Brighton, MN, 55112, USA
| | - Matthew Brown
- Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, Burlington, NC, 27215, USA
| | - Wendy Hahn
- Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, New Brighton, MN, 55112, USA
| | - Jose Gil
- Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, Los Angeles, CA, 90062, USA
| | - Rocío Barron-Montenegro
- Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Millennium Initiative for Collaborative Research on Bacteria Resistance (MICROB-R), Santiago, Chile
| | - Andrea I Moreno-Switt
- Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Millennium Initiative for Collaborative Research on Bacteria Resistance (MICROB-R), Santiago, Chile
| | - Marcia Eisenberg
- Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, Burlington, NC, 27215, USA
| | - Minh M Nguyen
- Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, New Brighton, MN, 55112, USA
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12
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Bonilla E, Costa AR, van den Berg DF, van Rossum T, Hagedoorn S, Walinga H, Xiao M, Song W, Haas PJ, Nobrega FL, Brouns SJJ. Genomic characterization of four novel bacteriophages infecting the clinical pathogen Klebsiella pneumoniae. DNA Res 2021; 28:6352498. [PMID: 34390569 PMCID: PMC8386662 DOI: 10.1093/dnares/dsab013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophages are an invaluable source of novel genetic diversity. Sequencing of phage genomes can reveal new proteins with potential uses as biotechnological and medical tools, and help unravel the diversity of biological mechanisms employed by phages to take over the host during viral infection. Aiming to expand the available collection of phage genomes, we have isolated, sequenced, and assembled the genome sequences of four phages that infect the clinical pathogen Klebsiella pneumoniae: vB_KpnP_FBKp16, vB_KpnP_FBKp27, vB_KpnM_FBKp34, and Jumbo phage vB_KpnM_FBKp24. The four phages show very low (0–13%) identity to genomic phage sequences deposited in the GenBank database. Three of the four phages encode tRNAs and have a GC content very dissimilar to that of the host. Importantly, the genome sequences of the phages reveal potentially novel DNA packaging mechanisms as well as distinct clades of tubulin spindle and nucleus shell proteins that some phages use to compartmentalize viral replication. Overall, this study contributes to uncovering previously unknown virus diversity, and provides novel candidates for phage therapy applications against antibiotic-resistant K. pneumoniae infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estrada Bonilla
- Department of Bionanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, Delft 2629 HZ, The Netherlands.,Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft, The Netherlands.,Fagenbank, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Ana Rita Costa
- Department of Bionanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, Delft 2629 HZ, The Netherlands.,Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft, The Netherlands.,Fagenbank, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Daan F van den Berg
- Department of Bionanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, Delft 2629 HZ, The Netherlands.,Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Teunke van Rossum
- Department of Bionanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, Delft 2629 HZ, The Netherlands.,Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft, The Netherlands.,Fagenbank, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Stefan Hagedoorn
- Department of Bionanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, Delft 2629 HZ, The Netherlands
| | - Hielke Walinga
- Department of Bionanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, Delft 2629 HZ, The Netherlands
| | - Minfeng Xiao
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China.,Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Unknown Pathogen Identification, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Wenchen Song
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China.,Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Unknown Pathogen Identification, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Pieter-Jan Haas
- Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Franklin L Nobrega
- Fagenbank, Delft, The Netherlands.,School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Stan J J Brouns
- Department of Bionanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, Delft 2629 HZ, The Netherlands.,Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft, The Netherlands.,Fagenbank, Delft, The Netherlands
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13
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Hill N, De Peña AC, Miller A, Lapizco-Encinas BH. On the potential of microscale electrokinetic cascade devices. Electrophoresis 2021; 42:2474-2482. [PMID: 33970503 DOI: 10.1002/elps.202100069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Phages used for phage therapy of multidrug resistant bacteria must be highly purified prior to use. There are limited purification approaches that are broadly applicable to many phage types. Electrokinetics has shown great potential to manipulate phages, but obstructions from the cell debris produced during phage propagation can severely diminish the capacity of an electrokinetic device to concentrate and purify phage samples. A multipart insulator-based electrokinetic device is proposed here to remove the larger, undesirable components of mixtures from phage preparations while transferring the freshly purified and concentrated sample to a second stage for downstream analysis. By combining the large debris prescreen and analysis stages in a streamlined system, this approach simultaneously reduces the impact of clogging and minimizes the sample loss observed during manual transferring of purified samples. Polystyrene particles were used to demonstrate a diminished sample loss of approximately one order of magnitude when using the cascade device as opposed to a manual transfer scheme. The purification and concentration of three different phage samples were demonstrated using the first stage of the cascade device as a prescreen. This design provides a simple method of purifying and concentrating valuable samples from a complex mixture that might impede separation capacity in a single channel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Hill
- Microscale Bioseparations Laboratory and Biomedical Engineering Department, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Adriana Coll De Peña
- Microscale Bioseparations Laboratory and Biomedical Engineering Department, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, USA.,Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Abbi Miller
- Microscale Bioseparations Laboratory and Biomedical Engineering Department, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Blanca H Lapizco-Encinas
- Microscale Bioseparations Laboratory and Biomedical Engineering Department, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, USA
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14
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Krylov V, Bourkaltseva M, Pleteneva E, Shaburova O, Krylov S, Karaulov A, Zhavoronok S, Svitich O, Zverev V. Phage phiKZ-The First of Giants. Viruses 2021; 13:149. [PMID: 33498475 PMCID: PMC7909554 DOI: 10.3390/v13020149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The paper covers the history of the discovery and description of phiKZ, the first known giant bacteriophage active on Pseudomonas aeruginosa. It also describes its unique features, especially the characteristic manner of DNA packing in the head around a cylinder-shaped structure ("inner body"), which probably governs an ordered and tight packaging of the phage genome. Important properties of phiKZ-like phages include a wide range of lytic activity and the blue opalescence of their negative colonies, and provide a background for the search and discovery of new P. aeruginosa giant phages. The importance of the phiKZ species and of other giant phage species in practical phage therapy is noted given their broad use in commercial phage preparations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Krylov
- I.I. Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines & Sera, 105064 Moscow, Russia; (M.B.); (E.P.); (O.S.); (S.K.); (O.S.); (V.Z.)
| | - Maria Bourkaltseva
- I.I. Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines & Sera, 105064 Moscow, Russia; (M.B.); (E.P.); (O.S.); (S.K.); (O.S.); (V.Z.)
| | - Elena Pleteneva
- I.I. Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines & Sera, 105064 Moscow, Russia; (M.B.); (E.P.); (O.S.); (S.K.); (O.S.); (V.Z.)
| | - Olga Shaburova
- I.I. Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines & Sera, 105064 Moscow, Russia; (M.B.); (E.P.); (O.S.); (S.K.); (O.S.); (V.Z.)
| | - Sergey Krylov
- I.I. Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines & Sera, 105064 Moscow, Russia; (M.B.); (E.P.); (O.S.); (S.K.); (O.S.); (V.Z.)
| | - Alexander Karaulov
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 119146 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Sergey Zhavoronok
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Belarusian State Medical University, 220116 Minsk, Belarus;
| | - Oxana Svitich
- I.I. Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines & Sera, 105064 Moscow, Russia; (M.B.); (E.P.); (O.S.); (S.K.); (O.S.); (V.Z.)
- Faculty of Preventive Medicine, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 119146 Moscow, Russia
| | - Vitaly Zverev
- I.I. Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines & Sera, 105064 Moscow, Russia; (M.B.); (E.P.); (O.S.); (S.K.); (O.S.); (V.Z.)
- Faculty of Preventive Medicine, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 119146 Moscow, Russia
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15
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Abstract
Since their discovery more than 100 years ago, the viruses that infect bacteria (bacteriophages) have been widely studied as model systems. Largely overlooked, however, have been "jumbo phages," with genome sizes ranging from 200 to 500 kbp. Jumbo phages generally have large virions with complex structures and a broad host spectrum. While the majority of jumbo phage genes are poorly functionally characterized, recent work has discovered many unique biological features, including a conserved tubulin homolog that coordinates a proteinaceous nucleus-like compartment that houses and segregates phage DNA. The tubulin spindle displays dynamic instability and centers the phage nucleus within the bacterial host during phage infection for optimal reproduction. The shell provides robust physical protection for the enclosed phage genomes against attack from DNA-targeting bacterial immune systems, thereby endowing jumbo phages with broad resistance. In this review, we focus on the current knowledge of the cytoskeletal elements and the specialized nuclear compartment derived from jumbo phages, and we highlight their importance in facilitating spatial and temporal organization over the viral life cycle. Additionally, we discuss the evolutionary relationships between jumbo phages and eukaryotic viruses, as well as the therapeutic potential and drawbacks of jumbo phages as antimicrobial agents in phage therapy.
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16
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Misol GN, Kokkari C, Katharios P. Biological and Genomic Characterization of a Novel Jumbo Bacteriophage, vB_VhaM_pir03 with Broad Host Lytic Activity against Vibrio harveyi. Pathogens 2020; 9:E1051. [PMID: 33333990 PMCID: PMC7765460 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9121051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2020] [Revised: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Vibrio harveyi is a Gram-negative marine bacterium that causes major disease outbreaks and economic losses in aquaculture. Phage therapy has been considered as a potential alternative to antibiotics however, candidate bacteriophages require comprehensive characterization for a safe and practical phage therapy. In this work, a lytic novel jumbo bacteriophage, vB_VhaM_pir03 belonging to the Myoviridae family was isolated and characterized against V. harveyi type strain DSM19623. It had broad host lytic activity against 31 antibiotic-resistant strains of V. harveyi, V. alginolyticus, V. campbellii and V. owensii. Adsorption time of vB_VhaM_pir03 was determined at 6 min while the latent-phase was at 40 min and burst-size at 75 pfu/mL. vB_VhaM_pir03 was able to lyse several host strains at multiplicity-of-infections (MOI) 0.1 to 10. The genome of vB_VhaM_pir03 consists of 286,284 base pairs with 334 predicted open reading frames (ORFs). No virulence, antibiotic resistance, integrase encoding genes and transducing potential were detected. Phylogenetic and phylogenomic analysis showed that vB_VhaM_pir03 is a novel bacteriophage displaying the highest similarity to another jumbo phage, vB_BONAISHI infecting Vibrio coralliilyticus. Experimental phage therapy trial using brine shrimp, Artemia salina infected with V. harveyi demonstrated that vB_VhaM_pir03 was able to significantly reduce mortality 24 h post infection when administered at MOI 0.1 which suggests that it can be an excellent candidate for phage therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerald N. Misol
- Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology and Aquaculture, Hellenic Center for Marine Research, 71500 Heraklion, Crete, Greece; (G.N.M.J.); (C.K.)
- Department of Biology, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Constantina Kokkari
- Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology and Aquaculture, Hellenic Center for Marine Research, 71500 Heraklion, Crete, Greece; (G.N.M.J.); (C.K.)
| | - Pantelis Katharios
- Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology and Aquaculture, Hellenic Center for Marine Research, 71500 Heraklion, Crete, Greece; (G.N.M.J.); (C.K.)
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17
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Neumann E, Kawasaki T, Effantin G, Estrozi LF, Chatchawankanphanich O, Yamada T, Schoehn G. 3D structure of three jumbo phage heads. J Gen Virol 2020; 101:1219-1226. [PMID: 32840476 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Jumbo phages are bacteriophages that carry more than 200 kbp of DNA. In this study we characterized two jumbo phages (ΦRSL2 and ΦXacN1) and one semi-jumbo phage (ΦRP13) at the structural level by cryo-electron microscopy. Focusing on their capsids, three-dimensional structures of the heads at resolutions ranging from 16 to 9 Å were calculated. Based on these structures we determined the geometrical basis on which the icosahedral capsids of these phages are constructed, which includes the accessory and decorative proteins that complement them. A triangulation number novel to Myoviridae (ΦRP13; T=21) was discovered as well as two others, which are more common for jumbo phages (T=27 and T=28). Based on one of the structures we also provide evidence that accessory or decorative proteins are not a prerequisite for maintaining the structural integrity of very large capsids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuelle Neumann
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, Institute for Structural Biology (IBS), F-38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Takeru Kawasaki
- Unit of Biotechnology, Division of Biological and Life Science, Graduate School of Integrated Science for Life, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8530, Japan
| | - Grégory Effantin
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, Institute for Structural Biology (IBS), F-38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Leandro F Estrozi
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, Institute for Structural Biology (IBS), F-38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Orawan Chatchawankanphanich
- Plant Research Laboratory, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, NSTDA, Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Takashi Yamada
- Unit of Biotechnology, Division of Biological and Life Science, Graduate School of Integrated Science for Life, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8530, Japan.,Hiroshima Study Center, The Open University of Japan, Hiroshima 730-0053, Japan
| | - Guy Schoehn
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, Institute for Structural Biology (IBS), F-38000, Grenoble, France
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18
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The Mottled Capsid of the Salmonella Giant Phage SPN3US, a Likely Maturation Intermediate with a Novel Internal Shell. Viruses 2020; 12:v12090910. [PMID: 32825132 PMCID: PMC7552025 DOI: 10.3390/v12090910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Revised: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
“Giant” phages have genomes of >200 kbp, confined in correspondingly large capsids whose assembly and maturation are still poorly understood. Nevertheless, the first assembly product is likely to be, as in other tailed phages, a procapsid that subsequently matures and packages the DNA. The associated transformations include the cleavage of many proteins by the phage-encoded protease, as well as the thinning and angularization of the capsid. We exploited an amber mutation in the viral protease gene of the Salmonella giant phage SPN3US, which leads to the accumulation of a population of capsids with distinctive properties. Cryo-electron micrographs reveal patterns of internal density different from those of the DNA-filled heads of virions, leading us to call them “mottled capsids”. Reconstructions show an outer shell with T = 27 symmetry, an embellishment of the HK97 prototype composed of the major capsid protein, gp75, which is similar to some other giant viruses. The mottled capsid has a T = 1 inner icosahedral shell that is a complex network of loosely connected densities composed mainly of the ejection proteins gp53 and gp54. Segmentation of this inner shell indicated that a number of densities (~12 per asymmetric unit) adopt a “twisted hook” conformation. Large patches of a proteinaceous tetragonal lattice with a 67 Å repeat were also present in the cell lysate. The unexpected nature of these novel inner shell and lattice structures poses questions as to their functions in virion assembly.
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19
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Lood C, Danis‐Wlodarczyk K, Blasdel BG, Jang HB, Vandenheuvel D, Briers Y, Noben J, van Noort V, Drulis‐Kawa Z, Lavigne R. Integrative omics analysis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa virus PA5oct highlights the molecular complexity of jumbo phages. Environ Microbiol 2020; 22:2165-2181. [PMID: 32154616 PMCID: PMC7318152 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.14979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2019] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Pseudomonas virus vB_PaeM_PA5oct is proposed as a model jumbo bacteriophage to investigate phage-bacteria interactions and is a candidate for phage therapy applications. Combining hybrid sequencing, RNA-Seq and mass spectrometry allowed us to accurately annotate its 286,783 bp genome with 461 coding regions including four non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) and 93 virion-associated proteins. PA5oct relies on the host RNA polymerase for the infection cycle and RNA-Seq revealed a gradual take-over of the total cell transcriptome from 21% in early infection to 93% in late infection. PA5oct is not organized into strictly contiguous regions of temporal transcription, but some genomic regions transcribed in early, middle and late phases of infection can be discriminated. Interestingly, we observe regions showing limited transcription activity throughout the infection cycle. We show that PA5oct upregulates specific bacterial operons during infection including operons pncA-pncB1-nadE involved in NAD biosynthesis, psl for exopolysaccharide biosynthesis and nap for periplasmic nitrate reductase production. We also observe a downregulation of T4P gene products suggesting mechanisms of superinfection exclusion. We used the proteome of PA5oct to position our isolate amongst other phages using a gene-sharing network. This integrative omics study illustrates the molecular diversity of jumbo viruses and raises new questions towards cellular regulation and phage-encoded hijacking mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cédric Lood
- Department of Biosystems, Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, Laboratory of Computational Systems Biology, KU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - Katarzyna Danis‐Wlodarczyk
- Department of Biosystems, Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- Department of Pathogen Biology and ImmunologyInstitute of Genetics and Microbiology, University of WroclawWroclawPoland
| | - Bob G. Blasdel
- Department of Biosystems, Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - Ho Bin Jang
- Department of Biosystems, Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - Dieter Vandenheuvel
- Department of Biosystems, Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - Yves Briers
- Department of Biosystems, Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - Jean‐Paul Noben
- Biomedical Research Institute and Transnational University LimburgHasselt UniversityDiepenbeekBelgium
| | - Vera van Noort
- Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, Laboratory of Computational Systems Biology, KU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- Institute of Biology, Leiden UniversityLeidenThe Netherlands
| | - Zuzanna Drulis‐Kawa
- Department of Pathogen Biology and ImmunologyInstitute of Genetics and Microbiology, University of WroclawWroclawPoland
| | - Rob Lavigne
- Department of Biosystems, Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
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20
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Wagemans J, Tsonos J, Holtappels D, Fortuna K, Hernalsteens JP, De Greve H, Estrozi LF, Bacia-Verloop M, Moriscot C, Noben JP, Schoehn G, Lavigne R. Structural Analysis of Jumbo Coliphage phAPEC6. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21093119. [PMID: 32354127 PMCID: PMC7247149 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21093119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Revised: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The phAPEC6 genome encodes 551 predicted gene products, with the vast majority (83%) of unknown function. Of these, 62 have been identified as virion-associated proteins by mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS), including the major capsid protein (Gp225; present in 1620 copies), which shows a HK97 capsid protein-based fold. Cryo-electron microscopy experiments showed that the 350-kbp DNA molecule of Escherichia coli virus phAPEC6 is packaged in at least 15 concentric layers in the phage capsid. A capsid inner body rod is also present, measuring about 91 nm by 18 nm and oriented along the portal axis. In the phAPEC6 contractile tail, 25 hexameric stacked rings can be distinguished, built of the identified tail sheath protein (Gp277). Cryo-EM reconstruction reveals the base of the unique hairy fibers observed during an initial transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis. These very unusual filaments are ordered at three annular positions along the contractile sheath, as well as around the capsid, and may be involved in host interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeroen Wagemans
- Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 21—box 2462, 3001 Leuven, Belgium; (J.W.); (J.T.); (D.H.); (K.F.)
| | - Jessica Tsonos
- Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 21—box 2462, 3001 Leuven, Belgium; (J.W.); (J.T.); (D.H.); (K.F.)
- Department of Biology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussel, Belgium;
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium;
| | - Dominique Holtappels
- Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 21—box 2462, 3001 Leuven, Belgium; (J.W.); (J.T.); (D.H.); (K.F.)
| | - Kiandro Fortuna
- Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 21—box 2462, 3001 Leuven, Belgium; (J.W.); (J.T.); (D.H.); (K.F.)
| | | | - Henri De Greve
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium;
- VIB Center for Structural Biology, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Leandro F. Estrozi
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CEA, CNRS, IBS, F-38000 Grenoble, France; (L.F.E.); (M.B.-V.)
| | - Maria Bacia-Verloop
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CEA, CNRS, IBS, F-38000 Grenoble, France; (L.F.E.); (M.B.-V.)
| | - Christine Moriscot
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, EMBL, Integrated Structural Biology Grenoble (ISBG), F-38042 Grenoble, France;
| | - Jean-Paul Noben
- Biomedical Research Institute and Transnational University Limburg, Hasselt University, Agoralaan D, 3590 Hasselt, Belgium;
| | - Guy Schoehn
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CEA, CNRS, IBS, F-38000 Grenoble, France; (L.F.E.); (M.B.-V.)
- Correspondence: (G.S.); (R.L.); Tel.: +33-4-5742-8568 (G.S.); +32-16-3795-24 (R.L.)
| | - Rob Lavigne
- Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 21—box 2462, 3001 Leuven, Belgium; (J.W.); (J.T.); (D.H.); (K.F.)
- Correspondence: (G.S.); (R.L.); Tel.: +33-4-5742-8568 (G.S.); +32-16-3795-24 (R.L.)
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21
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Serwer P, Wright ET. In-Gel Isolation and Characterization of Large (and Other) Phages. Viruses 2020; 12:v12040410. [PMID: 32272774 PMCID: PMC7232213 DOI: 10.3390/v12040410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Revised: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 04/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
We review some aspects of the rapid isolation of, screening for and characterization of jumbo phages, i.e., phages that have dsDNA genomes longer than 200 Kb. The first aspect is that, as plaque-supporting gels become more concentrated, jumbo phage plaques become smaller. Dilute agarose gels are better than conventional agar gels for supporting plaques of both jumbo phages and, prospectively, the even larger (>520 Kb genome), not-yet-isolated mega-phages. Second, dilute agarose gels stimulate propagation of at least some jumbo phages. Third, in-plaque techniques exist for screening for both phage aggregation and high-in-magnitude, negative average electrical surface charge density. The latter is possibly correlated with high phage persistence in blood. Fourth, electron microscopy of a thin section of a phage plaque reveals phage type, size and some phage life cycle information. Fifth, in-gel propagation is an effective preparative technique for at least some jumbo phages. Sixth, centrifugation through sucrose density gradients is a relatively non-destructive jumbo phage purification technique. These basics have ramifications in the development of procedures for (1) use of jumbo phages for phage therapy of infectious disease, (2) exploration of genomic diversity and evolution and (3) obtaining accurate metagenomic analyses.
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22
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Decewicz P, Golec P, Szymczak M, Radlinska M, Dziewit L. Identification and Characterization of the First Virulent Phages, Including a Novel Jumbo Virus, Infecting Ochrobactrum spp. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21062096. [PMID: 32197547 PMCID: PMC7139368 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21062096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Revised: 03/14/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The Ochrobactrum genus consists of an extensive repertoire of biotechnologically valuable bacterial strains but also opportunistic pathogens. In our previous study, a novel strain, Ochrobactrum sp. POC9, which enhances biogas production in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) was identified and thoroughly characterized. Despite an insightful analysis of that bacterium, its susceptibility to bacteriophages present in WWTPs has not been evaluated. Using raw sewage sample from WWTP and applying the enrichment method, two virulent phages, vB_OspM_OC and vB_OspP_OH, which infect the POC9 strain, were isolated. These are the first virulent phages infecting Ochrobactrum spp. identified so far. Both phages were subjected to thorough functional and genomic analyses, which allowed classification of the vB_OspM_OC virus as a novel jumbo phage, with a genome size of over 227 kb. This phage encodes DNA methyltransferase, which mimics the specificity of cell cycle regulated CcrM methylase, a component of the epigenetic regulatory circuits in Alphaproteobacteria. In this study, an analysis of the overall diversity of Ochrobactrum-specific (pro)phages retrieved from databases and extracted in silico from bacterial genomes was also performed. Complex genome mining allowed us to build similarity networks to compare 281 Ochrobactrum-specific viruses. Analyses of the obtained networks revealed a high diversity of Ochrobactrum phages and their dissimilarity to the viruses infecting other bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Przemyslaw Decewicz
- Department of Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland; (P.D.); (M.R.)
| | - Piotr Golec
- Department of Molecular Virology, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland; (P.G.); (M.S.)
| | - Mateusz Szymczak
- Department of Molecular Virology, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland; (P.G.); (M.S.)
| | - Monika Radlinska
- Department of Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland; (P.D.); (M.R.)
| | - Lukasz Dziewit
- Department of Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland; (P.D.); (M.R.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-225-541-406
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Olszak T, Danis-Wlodarczyk K, Arabski M, Gula G, Maciejewska B, Wasik S, Lood C, Higgins G, Harvey BJ, Lavigne R, Drulis-Kawa Z. Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA5oct Jumbo Phage Impacts Planktonic and Biofilm Population and Reduces Its Host Virulence. Viruses 2019; 11:E1089. [PMID: 31771160 PMCID: PMC6950013 DOI: 10.3390/v11121089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2019] [Revised: 11/19/2019] [Accepted: 11/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence of phage-resistant mutants is a key aspect of lytic phages-bacteria interaction and the main driver for the co-evolution between both organisms. Here, we analyze the impact of PA5oct jumbo phage treatment on planktonic/cell line associated and sessile P. aeruginosa population. Besides its broad-spectrum activity and efficient bacteria reduction in both airway surface liquid (ASL) model, and biofilm matrix degradation, PA5oct appears to persist in most of phage-resistant clones. Indeed, a high percentage of resistance (20/30 clones) to PA5oct is accompanied by the presence of phage DNA within bacterial culture. Moreover, the maintenance of this phage in the bacterial population correlates with reduced P. aeruginosa virulence, coupled with a sensitization to innate immune mechanisms, and a significantly reduced growth rate. We observed rather unusual consequences of PA5oct infection causing an increased inflammatory response of monocytes to P. aeruginosa. This phenomenon, combined with the loss or modification of the phage receptor, makes most of the phage-resistant clones significantly less pathogenic in in vivo model. These findings provide new insights into the general knowledge of giant phages biology and the impact of their application in phage therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomasz Olszak
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Institute of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Wroclaw, 51-148 Wroclaw, Poland; (T.O.); (K.D.-W.); (G.G.); (B.M.)
| | - Katarzyna Danis-Wlodarczyk
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Institute of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Wroclaw, 51-148 Wroclaw, Poland; (T.O.); (K.D.-W.); (G.G.); (B.M.)
- Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU Leuven, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium; (C.L.); (R.L.)
| | - Michal Arabski
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, Institute of Biology, The Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce, 25-406 Kielce, Poland;
| | - Grzegorz Gula
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Institute of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Wroclaw, 51-148 Wroclaw, Poland; (T.O.); (K.D.-W.); (G.G.); (B.M.)
| | - Barbara Maciejewska
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Institute of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Wroclaw, 51-148 Wroclaw, Poland; (T.O.); (K.D.-W.); (G.G.); (B.M.)
| | - Slawomir Wasik
- Department of Molecular Physics, Institute of Physics, The Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce, 25-406 Kielce, Poland;
| | - Cédric Lood
- Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU Leuven, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium; (C.L.); (R.L.)
- Laboratory of Computational Systems Biology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Gerard Higgins
- National Children Research Centre, Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin, 12 Dublin, Ireland;
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Education and Research Centre, Beaumont Hospital, 9 Dublin, Ireland;
| | - Brian J. Harvey
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Education and Research Centre, Beaumont Hospital, 9 Dublin, Ireland;
| | - Rob Lavigne
- Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU Leuven, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium; (C.L.); (R.L.)
| | - Zuzanna Drulis-Kawa
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Institute of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Wroclaw, 51-148 Wroclaw, Poland; (T.O.); (K.D.-W.); (G.G.); (B.M.)
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24
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Weintraub ST, Mohd Redzuan NH, Barton MK, Md Amin NA, Desmond MI, Adams LE, Ali B, Pardo S, Molleur D, Wu W, Newcomb WW, Osier MV, Black LW, Steven AC, Thomas JA. Global Proteomic Profiling of Salmonella Infection by a Giant Phage. J Virol 2019; 93:e01833-18. [PMID: 30541839 PMCID: PMC6384053 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01833-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2018] [Accepted: 11/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The 240-kb Salmonella phage SPN3US genome encodes 264 gene products, many of which are functionally uncharacterized. We have previously used mass spectrometry to define the proteomes of wild-type and mutant forms of the SPN3US virion. In this study, we sought to determine whether this technique was suitable for the characterization of the SPN3US proteome during liquid infection. Mass spectrometry of SPN3US-infected cells identified 232 SPN3US and 1,994 Salmonella proteins. SPN3US proteins with related functions, such as proteins with roles in DNA replication, transcription, and virion formation, were coordinately expressed in a temporal manner. Mass spectral counts showed the four most abundant SPN3US proteins to be the major capsid protein, two head ejection proteins, and the functionally unassigned protein gp22. This high abundance of gp22 in infected bacteria contrasted with its absence from mature virions, suggesting that it might be the scaffold protein, an essential head morphogenesis protein yet to be identified in giant phages. We identified homologs to SPN3US gp22 in 45 related giant phages, including ϕKZ, whose counterpart is also abundant in infected bacteria but absent in the virion. We determined the ϕKZ counterpart to be cleaved in vitro by its prohead protease, an event that has been observed to promote head maturation of some other phages. Our findings are consistent with a scaffold protein assignment for SPN3US gp22, although direct evidence is required for its confirmation. These studies demonstrate the power of mass spectral analyses for facilitating the acquisition of new knowledge into the molecular events of viral infection.IMPORTANCE "Giant" phages with genomes >200 kb are being isolated in increasing numbers from a range of environments. With hosts such as Salmonella enterica, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Erwinia amylovora, these phages are of interest for phage therapy of multidrug-resistant pathogens. However, our understanding of how these complex phages interact with their hosts is impeded by the proportion (∼80%) of their gene products that are functionally uncharacterized. To develop the repertoire of techniques for analysis of phages, we analyzed a liquid infection of Salmonella phage SPN3US (240-kb genome) using third-generation mass spectrometry. We observed the temporal production of phage proteins whose genes collectively represent 96% of the SPN3US genome. These findings demonstrate the sensitivity of mass spectrometry for global proteomic profiling of virus-infected cells, and the identification of a candidate for a major head morphogenesis protein will facilitate further studies into giant phage head assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan T Weintraub
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | | | - Melissa K Barton
- Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Nur Amira Md Amin
- Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Maxim I Desmond
- Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Lily E Adams
- Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Bazla Ali
- Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Sammy Pardo
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Dana Molleur
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Weimin Wu
- Laboratory of Structural Biology Research, National Institute for Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Disease, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - William W Newcomb
- Laboratory of Structural Biology Research, National Institute for Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Disease, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Michael V Osier
- Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Lindsay W Black
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Alasdair C Steven
- Laboratory of Structural Biology Research, National Institute for Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Disease, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Julie A Thomas
- Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York, USA
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25
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Numerous cultivated and uncultivated viruses encode ribosomal proteins. Nat Commun 2019; 10:752. [PMID: 30765709 PMCID: PMC6375957 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-08672-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2017] [Accepted: 01/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Viruses modulate ecosystems by directly altering host metabolisms through auxiliary metabolic genes. However, viral genomes are not known to encode the core components of translation machinery, such as ribosomal proteins (RPs). Here, using reference genomes and global-scale viral metagenomic datasets, we identify 14 different RPs across viral genomes arising from cultivated viral isolates and metagenome-assembled viruses. Viruses tend to encode dynamic RPs, easily exchangeable between ribosomes, suggesting these proteins can replace cellular versions in host ribosomes. Functional assays confirm that the two most common virus-encoded RPs, bS21 and bL12, are incorporated into 70S ribosomes when expressed in Escherichia coli. Ecological distribution of virus-encoded RPs suggests some level of ecosystem adaptations as aquatic viruses and viruses of animal-associated bacteria are enriched for different subsets of RPs. Finally, RP genes are under purifying selection and thus likely retained an important function after being horizontally transferred into virus genomes.
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26
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Abstract
It is widely assumed that there is a clear distinction between eukaryotes, with cell nuclei, and prokaryotes, which lack nuclei. This suggests the evolution of nuclear compartmentation is a singular event. However, emerging knowledge of the diversity of bacterial internal cell structures suggests the picture may not be as black-and-white as previously thought. For instance, some members of the bacterial PVC superphylum appear to have nucleus-like compartmentation, where transcription and translation are physically separated, and some jumbophages have recently been shown to create nucleus-like structures within their Pseudomonad hosts. Moreover, there is also tantalizing metagenomic identification of new Archaea that carry homologs of genes associated with internal cell membrane structure in eukaryotes. All these cases invite comparison with eukaryote cell biology. While the bacterial cases of genetic compartmentation are likely convergent, and thus viewed by many as not germane to the question of eukaryote origins, we argue here that, in addressing the broader question of the evolution of compartmentation, other instances are at least as important: they provide us with a point of comparison which is critical for a more general understanding of both the conditions favoring the emergence of intracellular compartmentation of DNA and the evolutionary consequences of such cellular architecture. Finally, we consider three classes of explanation for the emergence of compartmentation: physical protection, crosstalk avoidance and nonadaptive origins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather L. Hendrickson
- Institute of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Anthony M. Poole
- Bioinformatics Institute, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Te Ao Mârama/Centre for Fundamental Inquiry, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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27
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Jacquemot L, Bettarel Y, Monjol J, Corre E, Halary S, Desnues C, Bouvier T, Ferrier-Pagès C, Baudoux AC. Therapeutic Potential of a New Jumbo Phage That Infects Vibrio coralliilyticus, a Widespread Coral Pathogen. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:2501. [PMID: 30405564 PMCID: PMC6207643 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.02501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Accepted: 10/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Biological control using bacteriophages is a promising approach for mitigating the devastating effects of coral diseases. Several phages that infect Vibrio coralliilyticus, a widespread coral pathogen, have been isolated, suggesting that this bacterium is permissive to viral infection and is, therefore, a suitable candidate for treatment by phage therapy. In this study, we combined functional and genomic approaches to evaluate the therapeutic potential of BONAISHI, a novel V. coralliilyticus phage, which was isolated from the coral reef in Van Phong Bay (Vietnam). BONAISHI appears to be strictly lytic for several pathogenic strains of V. coralliilyticus and remains infectious over a broad range of environmental conditions. This candidate has an unusually large dsDNA genome (303 kb), with no genes that encode known toxins or implicated in lysogeny control. We identified several proteins involved in host lysis, which may offer an interesting alternative to the use of whole bacteriophages for controlling V. coralliilyticus. A preliminary therapy test showed that adding BONAISHI to an infected culture of Symbiodinium sp. cells reduced the impact of V. coralliilyticus on Symbiodinium sp. photosynthetic activity. This study showed that BONAISHI is able to mitigate V. coralliilyticus infections, making it a good candidate for phage therapy for coral disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loïc Jacquemot
- Sorbonne Universités UPMC Paris 06, CNRS, UMR7144 Adaptation et Diversité en Milieu Marin, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Roscoff, France
| | - Yvan Bettarel
- MARBEC, Université Montpellier, IRD, CNRS, Ifremer, Montpellier, France
| | - Joanne Monjol
- Sorbonne Universités UPMC Paris 06, CNRS, UMR7144 Adaptation et Diversité en Milieu Marin, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Roscoff, France
| | - Erwan Corre
- Sorbonne Universités UPMC Paris 06, CNRS, FR2424 Fédération de Recherche, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Roscoff, France
| | - Sébastien Halary
- Aix Marseille Université, Microbes, Evolution Phylogeny and infection (MEPHI), CNRS FRE2013, IRD 198, AP-HM, IHU - Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Christelle Desnues
- Aix Marseille Université, Microbes, Evolution Phylogeny and infection (MEPHI), CNRS FRE2013, IRD 198, AP-HM, IHU - Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Thierry Bouvier
- MARBEC, Université Montpellier, IRD, CNRS, Ifremer, Montpellier, France
| | | | - Anne-Claire Baudoux
- Sorbonne Universités UPMC Paris 06, CNRS, UMR7144 Adaptation et Diversité en Milieu Marin, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Roscoff, France
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28
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Attai H, Boon M, Phillips K, Noben JP, Lavigne R, Brown PJB. Larger Than Life: Isolation and Genomic Characterization of a Jumbo Phage That Infects the Bacterial Plant Pathogen, Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:1861. [PMID: 30154772 PMCID: PMC6102473 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Accepted: 07/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Agrobacterium tumefaciens is a plant pathogen that causes crown gall disease, leading to the damage of agriculturally-important crops. As part of an effort to discover new phages that can potentially be used as biocontrol agents to prevent crown gall disease, we isolated and characterized phage Atu_ph07 from Sawyer Creek in Springfield, MO, using the virulent Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain C58 as a host. After surveying its host range, we found that Atu_ph07 exclusively infects Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Time-lapse microscopy of A. tumefaciens cells subjected to infection at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 10 with Atu_ph07 reveals that lysis occurs within 3 h. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of virions shows that Atu_ph07 has a typical Myoviridae morphology with an icosahedral head, long tail, and tail fibers. The sequenced genome of Atu_ph07 is 490 kbp, defining it as a jumbo phage. The Atu_ph07 genome contains 714 open reading frames (ORFs), including 390 ORFs with no discernable homologs in other lineages (ORFans), 214 predicted conserved hypothetical proteins with no assigned function, and 110 predicted proteins with a functional annotation based on similarity to conserved proteins. The proteins with predicted functional annotations share sequence similarity with proteins from bacteriophages and bacteria. The functionally annotated genes are predicted to encode DNA replication proteins, structural proteins, lysis proteins, proteins involved in nucleotide metabolism, and tRNAs. Characterization of the gene products reveals that Atu_ph07 encodes homologs of 16 T4 core proteins and is closely related to Rak2-like phages. Using ESI-MS/MS, the majority of predicted structural proteins could be experimentally confirmed and 112 additional virion-associated proteins were identified. The genomic characterization of Atu_ph07 suggests that this phage is lytic and the dynamics of Atu_ph07 interaction with its host indicate that this phage may be suitable for inclusion in a phage cocktail to be used as a biocontrol agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hedieh Attai
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Maarten Boon
- Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kenya Phillips
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Jean-Paul Noben
- Biomedical Research Institute and Transnational University Limburg, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Rob Lavigne
- Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Pamela J B Brown
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
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Abstract
Roger W. Hendrix was at the forefront of bacteriophage biology for nearly 50 years and was central to our understanding of both viral capsid assembly and phage genomic diversity and evolution. Roger's warm and gentle demeanor belied a razor-sharp mind and warmed him to numerous highly productive collaborations that amplified his scientific impact. Roger was always completely open with scientific ideas while at the same time quietly agitating with a stream of new ways of thinking about problems and nudging our communities to search for innovative solutions: a gentle but highly effective provocateur.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherwood R Casjens
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Graham F Hatfull
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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30
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Abstract
Xanthomonas virus (phage) XacN1 is a novel jumbo myovirus infecting Xanthomonas citri, the causative agent of Asian citrus canker. Its linear 384,670 bp double-stranded DNA genome encodes 592 proteins and presents the longest (66 kbp) direct terminal repeats (DTRs) among sequenced viral genomes. The DTRs harbor 56 tRNA genes, which correspond to all 20 amino acids and represent the largest number of tRNA genes reported in a viral genome. Codon usage analysis revealed a propensity for the phage encoded tRNAs to target codons that are highly used by the phage but less frequently by its host. The existence of these tRNA genes and seven additional translation-related genes as well as a chaperonin gene found in the XacN1 genome suggests a relative independence of phage replication on host molecular machinery, leading to a prediction of a wide host range for this jumbo phage. We confirmed the prediction by showing a wider host range of XacN1 than other X. citri phages in an infection test against a panel of host strains. Phylogenetic analyses revealed a clade of phages composed of XacN1 and ten other jumbo phages, indicating an evolutionary stable large genome size for this group of phages.
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31
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Breaking Symmetry in Viral Icosahedral Capsids as Seen through the Lenses of X-ray Crystallography and Cryo-Electron Microscopy. Viruses 2018; 10:v10020067. [PMID: 29414851 PMCID: PMC5850374 DOI: 10.3390/v10020067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2018] [Revised: 01/26/2018] [Accepted: 01/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The majority of viruses on Earth form capsids built by multiple copies of one or more types of a coat protein arranged with 532 symmetry, generating an icosahedral shell. This highly repetitive structure is ideal to closely pack identical protein subunits and to enclose the nucleic acid genomes. However, the icosahedral capsid is not merely a passive cage but undergoes dynamic events to promote packaging, maturation and the transfer of the viral genome into the host. These essential processes are often mediated by proteinaceous complexes that interrupt the shell’s icosahedral symmetry, providing a gateway through the capsid. In this review, we take an inventory of molecular structures observed either internally, or at the 5-fold vertices of icosahedral DNA viruses that infect bacteria, archea and eukaryotes. Taking advantage of the recent revolution in cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and building upon a wealth of crystallographic structures of individual components, we review the design principles of non-icosahedral structural components that interrupt icosahedral symmetry and discuss how these macromolecules play vital roles in genome packaging, ejection and host receptor-binding.
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32
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Ramírez-Vargas G, Goh S, Rodríguez C. The Novel Phages phiCD5763 and phiCD2955 Represent Two Groups of Big Plasmidial Siphoviridae Phages of Clostridium difficile. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:26. [PMID: 29403466 PMCID: PMC5786514 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2017] [Accepted: 01/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Until recently, Clostridium difficile phages were limited to Myoviruses and Siphoviruses of medium genome length (32–57 kb). Here we report the finding of phiCD5763, a Siphovirus with a large extrachromosomal circular genome (132.5 kb, 172 ORFs) and a large capsid (205.6 ± 25.6 nm in diameter) infecting MLST Clade 1 strains of C. difficile. Two subgroups of big phage genomes similar to phiCD5763 were identified in 32 NAPCR1/RT012/ST-54 C. difficile isolates from Costa Rica and in whole genome sequences (WGS) of 41 C. difficile isolates of Clades 1, 2, 3, and 4 from Canada, USA, UK, Belgium, Iraq, and China. Through comparative genomics we discovered another putative big phage genome in a non-NAPCR1 isolate from Costa Rica, phiCD2955, which represents other big phage genomes found in 130 WGS of MLST Clade 1 and 2 isolates from Canada, USA, Hungary, France, Austria, and UK. phiCD2955 (131.6 kb, 172 ORFs) is related to a previously reported C. difficile phage genome, phiCD211/phiCDIF1296T. Detailed genome analyses of phiCD5763, phiCD2955, phiCD211/phiCDIF1296T, and seven other putative C. difficile big phage genome sequences of 131–136 kb reconstructed from publicly available WGS revealed a modular gene organization and high levels of sequence heterogeneity at several hotspots, suggesting that these genomes correspond to biological entities undergoing recombination. Compared to other C. difficile phages, these big phages have unique predicted terminase, capsid, portal, neck and tail proteins, receptor binding proteins (RBPs), recombinases, resolvases, primases, helicases, ligases, and hypothetical proteins. Moreover, their predicted gene load suggests a complex regulation of both phage and host functions. Overall, our results indicate that the prevalence of C. difficile big bacteriophages is more widespread than realized and open new avenues of research aiming to decipher how these viral elements influence the biology of this emerging pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Ramírez-Vargas
- Facultad de Microbiología and Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Shan Goh
- Pathobiology and Population Studies, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, United Kingdom
| | - César Rodríguez
- Facultad de Microbiología and Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
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33
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Zablocki O, van Zyl LJ, Kirby B, Trindade M. Diversity of dsDNA Viruses in a South African Hot Spring Assessed by Metagenomics and Microscopy. Viruses 2017; 9:E348. [PMID: 29156552 PMCID: PMC5707555 DOI: 10.3390/v9110348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2017] [Revised: 10/31/2017] [Accepted: 11/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The current view of virus diversity in terrestrial hot springs is limited to a few sampling sites. To expand our current understanding of hot spring viral community diversity, this study aimed to investigate the first African hot spring (Brandvlei hot spring; 60 °C, pH 5.7) by means of electron microscopy and sequencing of the virus fraction. Microscopy analysis revealed a mixture of regular- and 'jumbo'-sized tailed morphotypes (Caudovirales), lemon-shaped virions (Fuselloviridae-like; salterprovirus-like) and pleiomorphic virus-like particles. Metavirome analysis corroborated the presence of His1-like viruses and has expanded the current clade of salterproviruses using a polymerase B gene phylogeny. The most represented viral contig was to a cyanophage genome fragment, which may underline basic ecosystem functioning provided by these viruses. Furthermore, a putative Gemmata-related phage was assembled with high coverage, a previously undocumented phage-host association. This study demonstrated that a moderately thermophilic spring environment contained a highly novel pool of viruses and should encourage future characterization of a wider temperature range of hot springs throughout the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Zablocki
- Institute for Microbial Biotechnology and Metagenomics, Department of Biotechnology, University of the Western Cape, 7535 Bellville, South Africa.
| | - Leonardo Joaquim van Zyl
- Institute for Microbial Biotechnology and Metagenomics, Department of Biotechnology, University of the Western Cape, 7535 Bellville, South Africa.
| | - Bronwyn Kirby
- Institute for Microbial Biotechnology and Metagenomics, Department of Biotechnology, University of the Western Cape, 7535 Bellville, South Africa.
| | - Marla Trindade
- Institute for Microbial Biotechnology and Metagenomics, Department of Biotechnology, University of the Western Cape, 7535 Bellville, South Africa.
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Ali B, Desmond MI, Mallory SA, Benítez AD, Buckley LJ, Weintraub ST, Osier MV, Black LW, Thomas JA. To Be or Not To Be T4: Evidence of a Complex Evolutionary Pathway of Head Structure and Assembly in Giant Salmonella Virus SPN3US. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:2251. [PMID: 29187846 PMCID: PMC5694885 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.02251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2017] [Accepted: 10/31/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Giant Salmonella phage SPN3US has a 240-kb dsDNA genome and a large complex virion composed of many proteins for which the functions of most are undefined. We recently determined that SPN3US shares a core set of genes with related giant phages and sequenced and characterized 18 amber mutants to facilitate its use as a genetic model system. Notably, SPN3US and related giant phages contain a bolus of ejection proteins within their heads, including a multi-subunit virion RNA polymerase (vRNAP), that enter the host cell with the DNA during infection. In this study, we characterized the SPN3US virion using mass spectrometry to gain insight into its head composition and the features that its head shares with those of related giant phages and with T4 phage. SPN3US has only homologs to the T4 proteins critical for prohead shell formation, the portal and major capsid proteins, as well as to the major enzymes essential for head maturation, the prohead protease and large terminase subunit. Eight of ~50 SPN3US head proteins were found to undergo proteolytic processing at a cleavage motif by the prohead protease gp245. Gp245 undergoes auto-cleavage of its C-terminus, suggesting this is a conserved activation and/or maturation feature of related phage proteases. Analyses of essential head gene mutants showed that the five subunits of the vRNAP must be assembled for any subunit to be incorporated into the prohead, although the assembled vRNAP must then undergo subsequent major conformational rearrangements in the DNA packed capsid to allow ejection through the ~30 Å diameter tail tube for transcription from the injected DNA. In addition, ejection protein candidate gp243 was found to play a critical role in head assembly. Our analyses of the vRNAP and gp243 mutants highlighted an unexpected dichotomy in giant phage head maturation: while all analyzed giant phages have a homologous protease that processes major capsid and portal proteins, processing of ejection proteins is not always a stable/defining feature. Our identification in SPN3US, and related phages, of a diverged paralog to the prohead protease further hints toward a complicated evolutionary pathway for giant phage head structure and assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bazla Ali
- Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Maxim I Desmond
- Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Sara A Mallory
- Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Andrea D Benítez
- Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Larry J Buckley
- Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Susan T Weintraub
- Biochemistry, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Michael V Osier
- Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Lindsay W Black
- University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Julie A Thomas
- Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, United States
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Abstract
Large icosahedral viruses that infect bacteria represent an extreme of the coevolution of capsids and the genomes they accommodate. One subset of these large viruses is the jumbophages, tailed phages with double-stranded DNA genomes of at least 200,000 bp. We explored the mechanism leading to increased capsid and genome sizes by characterizing structures of several jumbophage capsids and the DNA packaged within them. Capsid structures determined for six jumbophages were consistent with the canonical phage HK97 fold, and three had capsid geometries with novel triangulation numbers (T=25, T=28, and T=52). Packaged DNA (chromosome) sizes were larger than the genome sizes, indicating that all jumbophages use a head-full DNA packaging mechanism. For two phages (PAU and G), the sizes appeared very much larger than their genome length. We used two-dimensional DNA gel electrophoresis to show that these two DNAs migrated abnormally due to base modifications and to allow us to calculate their actual chromosome sizes. Our results support a ratchet model of capsid and genome coevolution whereby mutations lead to increased capsid volume and allow the acquisition of additional genes. Once the added genes and larger capsid are established, mutations that restore the smaller size are disfavored. A large family of viruses share the same fold of the capsid protein as bacteriophage HK97, a virus that infects bacteria. Members of this family use different numbers of the capsid protein to build capsids of different sizes. Here, we examined the structures of extremely large capsids and measured their DNA content relative to the sequenced genome lengths, aiming to understand the process that increases size. We concluded that mutational changes leading to larger capsids become locked in by subsequent changes to the genome organization.
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Serwer P. Restoring logic and data to phage-cures for infectious disease. AIMS Microbiol 2017; 3:706-712. [PMID: 31294183 PMCID: PMC6604969 DOI: 10.3934/microbiol.2017.4.706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2017] [Accepted: 08/10/2017] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic therapy for infectious disease is being compromised by emergence of multi-drug-resistant bacterial strains, often called superbugs. A response is to use a cocktail of several bacteria-infecting viruses (bacteriophages or phages) to supplement antibiotic therapy. Use of such cocktails is called phage therapy, which has the advantage of response to bacterial resistance that is rapid and not exhaustible. A procedure of well-established success is to make cocktails from stockpiles of stored environmental phages. New phages are added to stockpiles when phage therapy becomes thwarted. The scientific subtext includes optimizing the following aspects: (1) procedure for rapidly detecting, purifying, storing and characterizing phages for optimization of phage cocktails, (2) use of directed evolution in the presence of bacteriostatic compounds to obtain phages that can be most efficiently used for therapy in the presence of these compounds, (3) phage genome sequencing technology and informatics to improve the characterization of phages, and (4) database technology to make optimal use of all relevant information and to rapidly retrieve phages for cocktails that will vary with the infection(s) involved. The use of phage stockpiles has an established record, including a recent major human-therapy success by the US Navy. However, I conclude that most research is not along this track and, therefore, is not likely to lead to real world success. I find that a strong case exists for action to rectify this situation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Serwer
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, The University of Texas Health Center, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, Texas 28229-3900, USA
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37
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Complete Genome Sequences of Three Novel Pseudomonas fluorescens SBW25 Bacteriophages, Noxifer, Phabio, and Skulduggery. GENOME ANNOUNCEMENTS 2017; 5:5/31/e00725-17. [PMID: 28774980 PMCID: PMC5543642 DOI: 10.1128/genomea.00725-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Three novel bacteriophages, two of which are jumbophages, were isolated from compost in Auckland, New Zealand. Noxifer, Phabio, and Skulduggery are double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) phages with genome sizes of 278,136 bp (Noxifer), 309,157 bp (Phabio), and 62,978 bp (Skulduggery).
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Matsui T, Yoshikawa G, Mihara T, Chatchawankanphanich O, Kawasaki T, Nakano M, Fujie M, Ogata H, Yamada T. Replications of Two Closely Related Groups of Jumbo Phages Show Different Level of Dependence on Host-encoded RNA Polymerase. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:1010. [PMID: 28659872 PMCID: PMC5468394 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.01010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2017] [Accepted: 05/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ralstonia solanacearum phages ΦRP12 and ΦRP31 are jumbo phages isolated in Thailand. Here we show that they exhibit similar virion morphology, genome organization and host range. Genome comparisons as well as phylogenetic and proteomic tree analyses support that they belong to the group of ΦKZ-related phages, with their closest relatives being R. solanacearum phages ΦRSL2 and ΦRSF1. Compared with ΦRSL2 and ΦRSF1, ΦRP12 and ΦRP31 possess larger genomes (ca. 280 kbp, 25% larger). The replication of ΦRP12 and ΦRP31 was not affected by rifampicin treatment (20 μg/ml), suggesting that phage-encoded RNAPs function to start and complete the infection cycle of these phages without the need of host-encoded RNAPs. In contrast, ΦRSL2 and ΦRSF1, encoding the same set of RNAPs, did not produce progeny phages in the presence of rifampicin (5 μg/ml). This observation opens the possibility that some ΦRP12/ΦRP31 factors that are absent in ΦRSL2 and ΦRSF1 are involved in their host-independent transcription.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeru Matsui
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Graduate School of Advanced Sciences of Matter, Hiroshima UniversityHigashi-Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Genki Yoshikawa
- Bioinformatics Center, Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto UniversityKyoto, Japan
| | - Tomoko Mihara
- Bioinformatics Center, Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto UniversityKyoto, Japan
| | - Orawan Chatchawankanphanich
- Plant Research Laboratory, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, NSTDAPathum Thani, Thailand.,Center for Agricultural Biotechnology, Kasetsart UniversityNakhon Pathom, Thailand
| | - Takeru Kawasaki
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Graduate School of Advanced Sciences of Matter, Hiroshima UniversityHigashi-Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Miyako Nakano
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Graduate School of Advanced Sciences of Matter, Hiroshima UniversityHigashi-Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Makoto Fujie
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Graduate School of Advanced Sciences of Matter, Hiroshima UniversityHigashi-Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Ogata
- Bioinformatics Center, Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto UniversityKyoto, Japan
| | - Takashi Yamada
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Graduate School of Advanced Sciences of Matter, Hiroshima UniversityHigashi-Hiroshima, Japan
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Abstract
Phages infecting Serratia marcescens, a common causative agent of nosocomial infections, have potential therapeutic applications. Here, we report the complete genome of the novel S. marcescens phage BF, representing the third-largest phage genome sequenced to date.
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Abstract
Tailed bacteriophages with genomes larger than 200 kbp are classified as Jumbo phages, and are rarely isolated by conventional methods. These phages are designated “jumbo” owing to their most notable features of a large phage virion and large genome size. However, in addition to these, jumbo phages also exhibit several novel characteristics that have not been observed for phages with smaller genomes, which differentiate jumbo phages in terms of genome organization, virion structure, progeny propagation, and evolution. In this review, we summarize available reports on jumbo phages and discuss the differences between jumbo phages and small-genome phages. We also discuss data suggesting that jumbo phages might have evolved from phages with smaller genomes by acquiring additional functional genes, and that these additional genes reduce the dependence of the jumbo phages on the host bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yihui Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Environmental Microbiology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Wuhan, PR, China
| | - Meiying Gao
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Environmental Microbiology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Wuhan, PR, China
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41
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Buttimer C, Hendrix H, Oliveira H, Casey A, Neve H, McAuliffe O, Ross RP, Hill C, Noben JP, O'Mahony J, Lavigne R, Coffey A. Things Are Getting Hairy: Enterobacteria Bacteriophage vB_PcaM_CBB. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:44. [PMID: 28174560 PMCID: PMC5259590 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2016] [Accepted: 01/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Enterobacteria phage vB_PcaM_CBB is a "jumbo" phage belonging to the family Myoviridae. It possesses highly atypical whisker-like structures along the length of its contractile tail. It has a broad host range with the capability of infecting species of the genera Erwinia, Pectobacterium, and Cronobacter. With a genome of 355,922 bp, excluding a predicted terminal repeat of 22,456 bp, phage CBB is the third largest phage sequenced to date. Its genome was predicted to encode 554 ORFs with 33 tRNAs. Based on prediction and proteome analysis of the virions, 29% of its predicted ORFs could be functionally assigned. Protein comparison shows that CBB shares between 33-38% of its proteins with Cronobacter phage GAP32, coliphages PBECO4 and 121Q as well as Klebsiella phage vB_KleM_Rak2. This work presents a detailed and comparative analysis of vB_PcaM_CBB of a highly atypical jumbo myoviridae phage, contributing to a better understanding of phage diversity and biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin Buttimer
- Department of Biological Sciences, Cork Institute of TechnologyCork, Ireland
| | - Hanne Hendrix
- Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU LeuvenLeuven, Belgium
| | - Hugo Oliveira
- Laboratório de Investigação em Biofilmes Rosário Oliveira, Centre of Biological Engineering, University of MinhoBraga, Portugal
| | - Aidan Casey
- Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark Fermoy, Co.Cork, Ireland
| | - Horst Neve
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Max Rubner-InstitutKiel, Germany
| | - Olivia McAuliffe
- Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark Fermoy, Co.Cork, Ireland
| | - R. Paul Ross
- Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark Fermoy, Co.Cork, Ireland
| | - Colin Hill
- APC Microbiome Institute and School of Microbiology, University CollegeCork, Ireland
| | - Jean-Paul Noben
- Biomedical Research Institute and Transnational University Limburg, Hasselt UniversityDiepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Jim O'Mahony
- Department of Biological Sciences, Cork Institute of TechnologyCork, Ireland
| | - Rob Lavigne
- Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU LeuvenLeuven, Belgium
| | - Aidan Coffey
- Department of Biological Sciences, Cork Institute of TechnologyCork, Ireland
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42
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Thomas JA, Benítez Quintana AD, Bosch MA, Coll De Peña A, Aguilera E, Coulibaly A, Wu W, Osier MV, Hudson AO, Weintraub ST, Black LW. Identification of Essential Genes in the Salmonella Phage SPN3US Reveals Novel Insights into Giant Phage Head Structure and Assembly. J Virol 2016; 90:10284-10298. [PMID: 27605673 PMCID: PMC5105663 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01492-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2016] [Accepted: 08/26/2016] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Giant tailed bacterial viruses, or phages, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa phage ϕKZ, have long genomes packaged into large, atypical virions. Many aspects of ϕKZ and related phage biology are poorly understood, mostly due to the fact that the functions of the majority of their proteins are unknown. We hypothesized that the Salmonella enterica phage SPN3US could be a useful model phage to address this gap in knowledge. The 240-kb SPN3US genome shares a core set of 91 genes with ϕKZ and related phages, ∼61 of which are virion genes, consistent with the expectation that virion complexity is an ancient, conserved feature. Nucleotide sequencing of 18 mutants enabled assignment of 13 genes as essential, information which could not have been determined by sequence-based searches for 11 genes. Proteome analyses of two SPN3US virion protein mutants with knockouts in 64 and 241 provided new insight into the composition and assembly of giant phage heads. The 64 mutant analyses revealed all the genetic determinants required for assembly of the SPN3US head and a likely head-tail joining role for gp64, and its homologs in related phages, due to the tailless-particle phenotype produced. Analyses of the mutation in 241, which encodes an RNA polymerase β subunit, revealed that without this subunit, no other subunits are assembled into the head, and enabled identification of a "missing" β' subunit domain. These findings support SPN3US as an excellent model for giant phage research, laying the groundwork for future analyses of their highly unusual virions, host interactions, and evolution. IMPORTANCE In recent years, there has been a paradigm shift in virology with the realization that extremely large viruses infecting prokaryotes (giant phages) can be found in many environments. A group of phages related to the prototype giant phage ϕKZ are of great interest due to their virions being among the most complex of prokaryotic viruses and their potential for biocontrol and phage therapy applications. Our understanding of the biology of these phages is limited, as a large proportion of their proteins have not been characterized and/or have been deemed putative without any experimental verification. In this study, we analyzed Salmonella phage SPN3US using a combination of genomics, genetics, and proteomics and in doing so revealed new information regarding giant phage head structure and assembly and virion RNA polymerase composition. Our findings demonstrate the suitability of SPN3US as a model phage for the growing group of phages related to ϕKZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie A Thomas
- Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York, USA
| | | | - Martine A Bosch
- Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Adriana Coll De Peña
- Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Elizabeth Aguilera
- Natural and Physical Sciences, Baltimore City Community College, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Assitan Coulibaly
- Natural and Physical Sciences, Baltimore City Community College, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Weimin Wu
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Michael V Osier
- Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - André O Hudson
- Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Susan T Weintraub
- University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Lindsay W Black
- University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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43
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Genome Sequence of Jumbo Phage vB_AbaM_ME3 of Acinetobacter baumanni. GENOME ANNOUNCEMENTS 2016; 4:4/4/e00431-16. [PMID: 27563033 PMCID: PMC5000817 DOI: 10.1128/genomea.00431-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Bacteriophage (phage) vB_AbaM_ME3 was previously isolated from wastewater effluent using the propagating host Acinetobacter baumannii DSM 30007. The full genome was sequenced, revealing it to be the largest Acinetobacter bacteriophage sequenced to date with a size of 234,900 bp and containing 326 open reading frames (ORFs).
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44
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Abstract
UNLABELLED Virus genomes are prone to extensive gene loss, gain, and exchange and share no universal genes. Therefore, in a broad-scale study of virus evolution, gene and genome network analyses can complement traditional phylogenetics. We performed an exhaustive comparative analysis of the genomes of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) viruses by using the bipartite network approach and found a robust hierarchical modularity in the dsDNA virosphere. Bipartite networks consist of two classes of nodes, with nodes in one class, in this case genomes, being connected via nodes of the second class, in this case genes. Such a network can be partitioned into modules that combine nodes from both classes. The bipartite network of dsDNA viruses includes 19 modules that form 5 major and 3 minor supermodules. Of these modules, 11 include tailed bacteriophages, reflecting the diversity of this largest group of viruses. The module analysis quantitatively validates and refines previously proposed nontrivial evolutionary relationships. An expansive supermodule combines the large and giant viruses of the putative order "Megavirales" with diverse moderate-sized viruses and related mobile elements. All viruses in this supermodule share a distinct morphogenetic tool kit with a double jelly roll major capsid protein. Herpesviruses and tailed bacteriophages comprise another supermodule, held together by a distinct set of morphogenetic proteins centered on the HK97-like major capsid protein. Together, these two supermodules cover the great majority of currently known dsDNA viruses. We formally identify a set of 14 viral hallmark genes that comprise the hubs of the network and account for most of the intermodule connections. IMPORTANCE Viruses and related mobile genetic elements are the dominant biological entities on earth, but their evolution is not sufficiently understood and their classification is not adequately developed. The key reason is the characteristic high rate of virus evolution that involves not only sequence change but also extensive gene loss, gain, and exchange. Therefore, in the study of virus evolution on a large scale, traditional phylogenetic approaches have limited applicability and have to be complemented by gene and genome network analyses. We applied state-of-the art methods of such analysis to reveal robust hierarchical modularity in the genomes of double-stranded DNA viruses. Some of the identified modules combine highly diverse viruses infecting bacteria, archaea, and eukaryotes, in support of previous hypotheses on direct evolutionary relationships between viruses from the three domains of cellular life. We formally identify a set of 14 viral hallmark genes that hold together the genomic network.
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45
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Yuan Y, Gao M. Proteomic Analysis of a Novel Bacillus Jumbo Phage Revealing Glycoside Hydrolase As Structural Component. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:745. [PMID: 27242758 PMCID: PMC4870245 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2016] [Accepted: 05/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Tailed phages with genomes of larger than 200 kbp are classified as Jumbo phages and exhibited extremely high uncharted diversity. The genomic annotation of Jumbo phage is often disappointing because most of the predicted proteins, including structural proteins, failed to make good hits to the sequences in the databases. In this study, 23 proteins of a novel Bacillus Jumbo phage, vB_BpuM_BpSp, were identified as phage structural proteins by the structural proteome analysis, including 14 proteins of unknown function, 5 proteins with predicted function as structural proteins, a glycoside hydrolase, a Holliday junction resolvase, a RNA-polymerase β-subunit, and a host-coding portal protein, which might be hijacked from the host strain during phage virion assembly. The glycoside hydrolase (Gp255) was identified as phage virion component and was found to interact with the phage baseplate protein. Gp255 shows specific lytic activity against the phage host strain GR8 and has high temperature tolerance. In situ peptidoglycan-hydrolyzing activities analysis revealed that the expressed Gp255 and phage structural proteome exhibited glycoside hydrolysis activity against the tested GR8 cell extracts. This study identified the first functional individual structural glycoside hydrolase in phage virion. The presence of activated glycoside hydrolase in phage virions might facilitate the injection of the phage genome during infection by forming pores on the bacterial cell wall.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Meiying Gao
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Environmental Microbiology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of SciencesWuhan, China
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46
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Calusinska M, Marynowska M, Goux X, Lentzen E, Delfosse P. Analysis of dsDNA and RNA viromes in methanogenic digesters reveals novel viral genetic diversity. Environ Microbiol 2016; 18:1162-75. [PMID: 26568175 PMCID: PMC7163765 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.13127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2014] [Revised: 08/17/2015] [Accepted: 11/06/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Although viruses are not the key players of the anaerobic digestion process, they may affect the dynamics of bacterial and archaeal populations involved in biogas production. Until now viruses have received very little attention in this specific habitat; therefore, as a first step towards their characterization, we optimized a virus filtration protocol from anaerobic sludge. Afterwards, to assess dsDNA and RNA viral diversity in sludge samples from nine different reactors fed either with waste water, agricultural residues or solid municipal waste plus agro‐food residues, we performed metagenomic analyses. As a result we showed that, while the dsDNA viromes (21 assigned families in total) were dominated by dsDNA phages of the order Caudovirales, RNA viruses (14 assigned families in total) were less diverse and were for the main part plant‐infecting viruses. Interestingly, less than 2% of annotated contigs were assigned as putative human and animal pathogens. Our study greatly extends the existing view of viral genetic diversity in methanogenic reactors and shows that these viral assemblages are distinct not only among the reactor types but also from nearly 30 other environments already studied, including the human gut, fermented food, deep sea sediments and other aquatic habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Calusinska
- Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, Environmental Research and Innovation (ERIN), 41 rue du Brill, L-4422, Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Martyna Marynowska
- Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, Environmental Research and Innovation (ERIN), 41 rue du Brill, L-4422, Belvaux, Luxembourg.,Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Gdansk and Medical University of Gdansk, ul. Kladki 24, 80-822, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Xavier Goux
- Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, Environmental Research and Innovation (ERIN), 41 rue du Brill, L-4422, Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Esther Lentzen
- Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, Materials Research and Technology (MRT), 41 rue du Brill, L-4422, Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Philippe Delfosse
- Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, Environmental Research and Innovation (ERIN), 41 rue du Brill, L-4422, Belvaux, Luxembourg
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47
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Abstract
Viruses that infect bacteria (bacteriophages; also known as phages) were discovered 100 years ago. Since then, phage research has transformed fundamental and translational biosciences. For example, phages were crucial in establishing the central dogma of molecular biology - information is sequentially passed from DNA to RNA to proteins - and they have been shown to have major roles in ecosystems, and help drive bacterial evolution and virulence. Furthermore, phage research has provided many techniques and reagents that underpin modern biology - from sequencing and genome engineering to the recent discovery and exploitation of CRISPR-Cas phage resistance systems. In this Timeline, we discuss a century of phage research and its impact on basic and applied biology.
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48
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Suhanovsky MM, Teschke CM. Nature's favorite building block: Deciphering folding and capsid assembly of proteins with the HK97-fold. Virology 2015; 479-480:487-97. [PMID: 25864106 PMCID: PMC4424165 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2015.02.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2015] [Revised: 02/24/2015] [Accepted: 02/27/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
For many (if not all) bacterial and archaeal tailed viruses and eukaryotic Herpesvirdae the HK97-fold serves as the major architectural element in icosahedral capsid formation while still enabling the conformational flexibility required during assembly and maturation. Auxiliary proteins or Δ-domains strictly control assembly of multiple, identical, HK97-like subunits into procapsids with specific icosahedral symmetries, rather than aberrant non-icosahedral structures. Procapsids are precursor structures that mature into capsids in a process involving release of auxiliary proteins (or cleavage of Δ-domains), dsDNA packaging, and conformational rearrangement of the HK97-like subunits. Some coat proteins built on the ubiquitous HK97-fold also have accessory domains or loops that impart specific functions, such as increased monomer, procapsid, or capsid stability. In this review, we analyze the numerous HK97-like coat protein structures that are emerging in the literature (over 40 at time of writing) by comparing their topology, additional domains, and their assembly and misassembly reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret M Suhanovsky
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, 91N. Eagleville Rd. Storrs, CT 06269-3125, USA.
| | - Carolyn M Teschke
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, 91N. Eagleville Rd. Storrs, CT 06269-3125, USA; Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, 91N. Eagleville Rd. Storrs, CT 06269-3125, USA.
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Gillis A, Mahillon J. Phages preying on Bacillus anthracis, Bacillus cereus, and Bacillus thuringiensis: past, present and future. Viruses 2014; 6:2623-72. [PMID: 25010767 PMCID: PMC4113786 DOI: 10.3390/v6072623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2014] [Revised: 05/19/2014] [Accepted: 06/18/2014] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Many bacteriophages (phages) have been widely studied due to their major role in virulence evolution of bacterial pathogens. However, less attention has been paid to phages preying on bacteria from the Bacillus cereus group and their contribution to the bacterial genetic pool has been disregarded. Therefore, this review brings together the main information for the B. cereus group phages, from their discovery to their modern biotechnological applications. A special focus is given to phages infecting Bacillus anthracis, B. cereus and Bacillus thuringiensis. These phages belong to the Myoviridae, Siphoviridae, Podoviridae and Tectiviridae families. For the sake of clarity, several phage categories have been made according to significant characteristics such as lifestyles and lysogenic states. The main categories comprise the transducing phages, phages with a chromosomal or plasmidial prophage state, γ-like phages and jumbo-phages. The current genomic characterization of some of these phages is also addressed throughout this work and some promising applications are discussed here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika Gillis
- Laboratory of Food and Environmental Microbiology, Université catholique de Louvain, Croix du Sud 2, L7.05.12, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
| | - Jacques Mahillon
- Laboratory of Food and Environmental Microbiology, Université catholique de Louvain, Croix du Sud 2, L7.05.12, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
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Development of giant bacteriophage ϕKZ is independent of the host transcription apparatus. J Virol 2014; 88:10501-10. [PMID: 24965474 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01347-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteriophage ϕKZ is the type representative of the giant phage genus, which is characterized by unusually large virions and genomes. By unraveling the transcriptional map of the ∼ 280-kb ϕKZ genome to single-nucleotide resolution, we combine 369 ϕKZ genes into 134 operons. Early transcription is initiated from highly conserved AT-rich promoters distributed across the ϕKZ genome and located on the same strand of the genome. Early transcription does not require phage or host protein synthesis. Transcription of middle and late genes is dependent on protein synthesis and mediated by poorly conserved middle and late promoters. Unique to ϕKZ is its ability to complete its infection in the absence of bacterial RNA polymerase (RNAP) enzyme activity. We propose that transcription of the ϕKZ genome is performed by the consecutive action of two ϕKZ-encoded, noncanonical multisubunit RNAPs, one of which is packed within the virion, another being the product of early genes. This unique, rifampin-resistant transcriptional machinery is conserved within the diverse giant phage genus. IMPORTANCE The data presented in this paper offer, for the first time, insight into the complex transcriptional scheme of giant bacteriophages. We show that Pseudomonas aeruginosa giant phage ϕKZ is able to infect and lyse its host cell and produce phage progeny in the absence of functional bacterial transcriptional machinery. This unique property can be attributed to two phage-encoded putative RNAP enzymes, which contain very distant homologues of bacterial β and β'-like RNAP subunits.
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