Analysis of six prophages in Lactococcus lactis IL1403: different genetic structure of temperate and virulent phage populations

Functional polyamine metabolic enzymes and pathways encoded by the virosphere

Viruses produce more viruses by manipulating the metabolic and replication systems of their host cells. Many have acquired metabolic genes from ancestral hosts and use the encoded enzymes to subvert host metabolism. The polyamine spermidine is required for bacteriophage and eukaryotic virus replication, and herein, we have identified and functionally characterized diverse phage- and virus-encoded polyamine metabolic enzymes and pathways. These include pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP)-dependent ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), pyruvoyl-dependent ODC and arginine decarboxylase (ADC), arginase, S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (AdoMetDC/speD), spermidine synthase, homospermidine synthase, spermidine N-acetyltransferase, and N-acetylspermidine amidohydrolase. We identified homologs of the spermidine-modified translation factor eIF5a encoded by giant viruses of the Imitervirales. Although AdoMetDC/speD is prevalent among marine phages, some homologs have lost AdoMetDC activity and have evolved into pyruvoyl-dependent ADC or ODC. The pelagiphages that encode the pyruvoyl-dependent ADCs infect the abundant ocean bacterium Candidatus Pelagibacter ubique, which we have found encodes a PLP-dependent ODC homolog that has evolved into an ADC, indicating that infected cells would contain both PLP- and pyruvoyl-dependent ADCs. Complete or partial spermidine or homospermidine biosynthetic pathways are found encoded in the giant viruses of the Algavirales and Imitervirales, and in addition, some viruses of the Imitervirales can release spermidine from the inactive N-acetylspermidine. In contrast, diverse phages encode spermidine N-acetyltransferase that can sequester spermidine into its inactive N-acetyl form. Together, the virome-encoded enzymes and pathways for biosynthesis and release or biochemical sequestration of spermidine or its structural analog homospermidine consolidate and expand evidence supporting an important and global role of spermidine in virus biology.

In Vitro Activity, Stability and Molecular Characterization of Eight Potent Bacteriophages Infecting Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae

BACKGROUND

Members of the genus Klebsiella are among the leading microbial pathogens associated with nosocomial infection. The increased incidence of antimicrobial resistance in these species has propelled the need for alternate/combination therapeutic regimens to aid clinical treatment, including bacteriophage therapy. Bacteriophages are considered very safe and effective in treating bacterial infections. In this study, we characterize eight lytic bacteriophages that were previously isolated by our team against carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae.

METHODS

The one-step-growth curves, stability and lytic ability of eight bacteriophages were characterized. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) typing analysis and protein profiling were used to characterize the microbes at the molecular level. Phylogenetic trees of four important proteins were constructed for the two selected bacteriophages.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

All eight bacteriophages showed high efficiency for reducing bacterial concentration with high stability under different physical and chemical conditions. We found four major protein bands out of at least ten 15-190 KDa bands that were clearly separated by SDS-PAGE, which were assumed to be the major head and tail proteins. The genomes were found to be dsDNA, with sizes of approximately 36-87 Kb. All bacteriophages reduced the optical density of the planktonic K. pneumoniae abruptly, indicating great potential to reduce K. pneumoniae infection. In this study, we have found that tail fiber protein can further distinguished closely related bacteriophages. The characterised bacteriophages showed promising potential as candidates against carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae via bacteriophage therapy.

Virulent Phages Isolated from a Smear-Ripened Cheese Are Also Detected in Reservoirs of the Cheese Factory

Smear-ripened cheeses host complex microbial communities that play a crucial role in the ripening process. Although bacteriophages have been frequently isolated from dairy products, their diversity and ecological role in such this type of cheese remain underexplored. In order to fill this gap, the main objective of this study was to isolate and characterize bacteriophages from the rind of a smear-ripened cheese. Thus, viral particles extracted from the cheese rind were tested through a spot assay against a collection of bacteria isolated from the same cheese and identified by sequencing the full-length small subunit ribosomal RNA gene. In total, five virulent bacteriophages infecting Brevibacterium aurantiacum, Glutamicibacter arilaitensis, Leuconostoc falkenbergense and Psychrobacter aquimaris species were obtained. All exhibit a narrow host range, being only able to infect a few cheese-rind isolates within the same species. The complete genome of each phage was sequenced using both Nanopore and Illumina technologies, assembled and annotated. A sequence comparison with known phages revealed that four of them may represent at least new genera. The distribution of the five virulent phages into the dairy-plant environment was also investigated by PCR, and three potential reservoirs were identified. This work provides new knowledge on the cheese rind viral community and an overview of the distribution of phages within a cheese factory.

Antibiotic resistance in the viral fraction of dairy products and a nut-based milk

Phages, the most abundant biological entities in the biosphere, can carry different bacterial genes, including those conferring antibiotic resistance. In this study, dairy products were analyzed by qPCR for the presence of phages and phage particles containing antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Eleven ARGs were identified in 50 samples of kefir, yogurt, milk, fresh cheese and nut-based milk (horchata), purchased from local retailers in Barcelona. Propagation experiments showed that at least some of the phages isolated from these samples infected Escherichia coli WG5, which was selected as the host strain because it does not contain prophages or ARGs in its genome. Electron microscopy revealed that the phage particles showed morphologies compatible with the Myoviridae and Siphoviridae families. Our results show that dairy products contain ARGs within infectious phage particles and may therefore serve as a reservoir of ARGs that can be mobilized to susceptible hosts, both in the food matrix and in the intestinal tract after ingestion.

Genomic Features and Construction of Streamlined Genome Chassis of Nisin Z Producer Lactococcus lactis N8

Lactococcus lactis is a commonly used fermenting bacteria in cheese, beverages and meat products. Due to the lack of simplified chassis strains, it has not been widely used in the fields of synthetic biology. Thus, the construction of lactic acid bacteria chassis strains becomes more and more important. In this study, we performed whole genome sequencing, annotation and analysis of L. lactis N8. Based on the genome analysis, we found that L. lactis N8 contains two large plasmids, and the function prediction of the plasmids shows that some regions are related to carbohydrate transport/metabolism, multi-stress resistance and amino acid uptake. L. lactis N8 contains a total of seven prophage-related fragments and twelve genomic islands. A gene cluster encoding a hybrid NRPS–PKS system that was found in L. lactis N8 reveals that the strain has the potential to synthesize novel secondary metabolites. Furthermore, we have constructed a simplified genome chassis of L. lactis N8 and achieved the largest amount of deletion of L. lactis so far. Taken together, the present study offers further insights into the function and potential role of L. lactis N8 as a model strain of lactic acid bacteria and lays the foundation for its application in the field of synthetic biology.

Phage satellites and their emerging applications in biotechnology

The arms race between (bacterio)phages and their hosts is a recognised hot spot for genome evolution. Indeed, phages and their components have historically paved the way for many molecular biology techniques and biotech applications. Further exploration into their complex lifestyles has revealed that phages are often parasitised by distinct types of hyperparasitic mobile genetic elements. These so-called phage satellites exploit phages to ensure their own propagation and horizontal transfer into new bacterial hosts, and their prevalence and peculiar lifestyle has caught the attention of many researchers. Here, we review the parasite-host dynamics of the known phage satellites, their genomic organisation and their hijacking mechanisms. Finally, we discuss how these elements can be repurposed for diverse biotech applications, kindling a new catalogue of exciting tools for microbiology and synthetic biology.

Causes and Consequences of Bacteriophage Diversification via Genetic Exchanges across Lifestyles and Bacterial Taxa

Bacteriophages (phages) evolve rapidly by acquiring genes from other phages. This results in mosaic genomes. Here, we identify numerous genetic transfers between distantly related phages and aim at understanding their frequency, consequences, and the conditions favoring them. Gene flow tends to occur between phages that are enriched for recombinases, transposases, and nonhomologous end joining, suggesting that both homologous and illegitimate recombination contribute to gene flow. Phage family and host phyla are strong barriers to gene exchange, but phage lifestyle is not. Even if we observe four times more recent transfers between temperate phages than between other pairs, there is extensive gene flow between temperate and virulent phages, and between the latter. These predominantly involve virulent phages with large genomes previously classed as low gene flux, and lead to the preferential transfer of genes encoding functions involved in cell energetics, nucleotide metabolism, DNA packaging and injection, and virion assembly. Such exchanges may contribute to the observed twice larger genomes of virulent phages. We used genetic transfers, which occur upon coinfection of a host, to compare phage host range. We found that virulent phages have broader host ranges and can mediate genetic exchanges between narrow host range temperate phages infecting distant bacterial hosts, thus contributing to gene flow between virulent phages, as well as between temperate phages. This gene flow drastically expands the gene repertoires available for phage and bacterial evolution, including the transfer of functional innovations across taxa.

Cenote-Taker 2 democratizes virus discovery and sequence annotation

Viruses, despite their great abundance and significance in biological systems, remain largely mysterious. Indeed, the vast majority of the perhaps hundreds of millions of viral species on the planet remain undiscovered. Additionally, many viruses deposited in central databases like GenBank and RefSeq are littered with genes annotated as 'hypothetical protein' or the equivalent. Cenote-Taker 2, a virus discovery and annotation tool available on command line and with a graphical user interface with free high-performance computation access, utilizes highly sensitive models of hallmark virus genes to discover familiar or divergent viral sequences from user-input contigs. Additionally, Cenote-Taker 2 uses a flexible set of modules to automatically annotate the sequence features of contigs, providing more gene information than comparable tools. The outputs include readable and interactive genome maps, virome summary tables, and files that can be directly submitted to GenBank. We expect Cenote-Taker 2 to facilitate virus discovery, annotation, and expansion of the known virome.

Classifying the Lifestyle of Metagenomically-Derived Phages Sequences Using Alignment-Free Methods

Phages are viruses that infect bacteria. The phages can be classified into two different categories based on their lifestyles: temperate and lytic. Now, the metavirome can generate a large number of fragments from the viral genomic sequences of entire environmental community, which makes it impossible to determine their lifestyles through experiments. Thus, there is a need to development computational methods for annotating phage contigs and making prediction of their lifestyles. Alignment-based methods for classifying phage lifestyle are limited by incomplete assembled genomes and nucleotide databases. Alignment-free methods based on the frequencies of k-mers were widely used for genome and metagenome comparison which did not rely on the completeness of genome or nucleotide databases. To mimic fragmented metagenomic sequences, the temperate and lytic phages genomic sequences were split into non-overlapping fragments with different lengths, then, I comprehensively compared nine alignment-free dissimilarity measures with a wide range of choices of k-mer length and Markov orders for predicting the lifestyles of these phage contigs. The dissimilarity measure, d2S, performed better than other dissimilarity measures for classifying the lifestyles of phages. Thus, I propose that the alignment-free method, d2S, can be used for predicting the lifestyles of phages which derived from the metagenomic data.

Large-scale chromosome flip-flop reversible inversion mediates phenotypic switching of expression of antibiotic resistance in lactococci

Bacteria can gain resistance to antimicrobials by acquiring and expressing genetic elements that encode resistance determinants such as efflux pumps and drug-modifying enzymes, thus hampering treatment of infection. Previously we showed that acquisition of spectinomycin resistance in a lactococcal strain was correlated with a reversible genomic inversion, but the precise location and the genes affected were unknown. Here we use long-read whole-genome sequencing to precisely define the genomic inversion and we use quantitative PCR to identify associated changes in gene expression levels. The boundaries of the inversion fall within two identical copies of a prophage-like sequence, located on the left and right replichores; this suggests possible mechanisms for inversion through homologous recombination or prophage activity. The inversion is asymmetrical in respect of the axis between the origin and terminus of the replication and modulates the expression of a SAM-dependent methyltransferase, whose heterologous expression confers resistance to spectinomycin in lactococci and that is up-regulated on exposure to spectinomycin. This study provides one of the first examples of phase variation via large-scale chromosomal inversions that confers a switch in antimicrobial resistance in bacteria and the first outside of Staphylococcus aureus.

New candidates for regulated gene integrity revealed through precise mapping of integrative genetic elements

Integrative genetic elements (IGEs) are mobile multigene DNA units that integrate into and excise from host bacterial genomes. Each IGE usually targets a specific site within a conserved host gene, integrating in a manner that preserves target gene function. However, a small number of bacterial genes are known to be inactivated upon IGE integration and reactivated upon excision, regulating phenotypes of virulence, mutation rate, and terminal differentiation in multicellular bacteria. The list of regulated gene integrity (RGI) cases has been slow-growing because IGEs have been challenging to precisely and comprehensively locate in genomes. We present software (TIGER) that maps IGEs with unprecedented precision and without attB site bias. TIGER uses a comparative genomic, ping-pong BLAST approach, based on the principle that the IGE integration module (i.e. its int-attP region) is cohesive. The resultant IGEs from 2168 genomes, along with integrase phylogenetic analysis and gene inactivation tests, revealed 19 new cases of genes whose integrity is regulated by IGEs (including dut, eccCa1, gntT, hrpB, merA, ompN, prkA, tqsA, traG, yifB, yfaT and ynfE), as well as recovering previously known cases (in sigK, spsM, comK, mlrA and hlb genes). It also recovered known clades of site-promiscuous integrases and identified possible new ones.

Phage diversity, genomics and phylogeny

Recent advances in viral metagenomics have enabled the rapid discovery of an unprecedented catalogue of phages in numerous environments, from the human gut to the deep ocean. Although these advances have expanded our understanding of phage genomic diversity, they also revealed that we have only scratched the surface in the discovery of novel viruses. Yet, despite the remarkable diversity of phages at the nucleotide sequence level, the structural proteins that form viral particles show strong similarities and conservation. Phages are uniquely interconnected from an evolutionary perspective and undergo multiple events of genetic exchange in response to the selective pressure of their hosts, which drives their diversity. In this Review, we explore phage diversity at the structural, genomic and community levels as well as the complex evolutionary relationships between phages, moulded by the mosaicity of their genomes.

Biodiversity and Classification of Phages Infecting Lactobacillus brevis

Lactobacillus brevis is a lactic acid bacterium that is known as a food and beverage spoilage organism, and more specifically as a beer-spoiler. Phages of L. brevis have been described, but very limited data is available regarding temperate phages of L. brevis. Temperate phages may exert benefits to the host, while they may also be employed to combat beer spoilage. The current study reports on the incidence of prophage sequences present in nineteen distinct L. brevis genomes. Prophage induction was evaluated using mitomycin C exposure followed by genome targeted-PCR, electron microscopy and structural proteome analysis. The morphological and genome sequence analyses revealed significant diversity among L. brevis prophages, which appear to be dominated by members of the Myoviridae phage family. Based on this analysis, we propose a classification of L. brevis phages into five groups.

A Specific Sugar Moiety in the Lactococcus lactis Cell Wall Pellicle Is Required for Infection by CHPC971, a Member of the Rare 1706 Phage Species

Lactococcus lactis is a Gram-positive bacterium widely used as a starter culture for the production of different dairy products, especially a large variety of cheeses. Infection of lactococcal starter cultures by bacteriophages is one of the major causes of fermentation failure and often leads to production halt. Lactococcal bacteriophages belonging to the c2, 936, and P335 species are the most commonly isolated in dairy plants and have been extensively investigated in the past three decades. Information regarding bacteriophages belonging to less commonly isolated species is, on the other hand, less extensive, although these phages can also contribute to starter culture infection. Here, we report the nucleotide sequence of the newly isolated L. lactis phage CHPC971, belonging to the rare 1706 species of lactococcal phages. We investigated the nature of the host receptor recognized by the phage and collected evidence that strongly suggests that it binds to a specific sugar moiety in the cell wall pellicle of its host. An in silico analysis of the genome of phage CHPC971 identified the hypothetical genes involved in receptor binding.IMPORTANCE Gathering information on how lactococcal bacteriophages recognize their host and proliferate in the dairy environment is of vital importance for the establishment of proper starter culture rotation plans and to avoid fermentation failure and consequent great economic losses for dairy industries. We provide strong evidence on the type of receptor recognized by a newly isolated 1706-type lactococcal bacteriophage, increasing knowledge of phage-host interactions relevant to dairying. This information can help to prevent phage infection events that, so far, are hard to predict and avoid.

Global In-Silico Scenario of tRNA Genes and Their Organization in Virus Genomes

Viruses are known to be highly dependent on the host translation machinery for their protein synthesis. However, tRNA genes are occasionally identified in such organisms, and in addition, few of them harbor tRNA gene clusters comprising dozens of genes. Recently, tRNA gene clusters have been shown to occur among the three domains of life. In such a scenario, the viruses could play a role in the dispersion of such structures among these organisms. Thus, in order to reveal the prevalence of tRNA genes as well as tRNA gene clusters in viruses, we performed an unbiased large-scale genome survey. Interestingly, tRNA genes were predicted in ssDNA (single-stranded DNA) and ssRNA (single-stranded RNA) viruses as well in many other dsDNA viruses of families from Caudovirales order. In the latter group, tRNA gene clusters composed of 15 to 37 tRNA genes were characterized, mainly in bacteriophages, enlarging the occurrence of such structures within viruses. These bacteriophages were from hosts that encompass five phyla and 34 genera. This in-silico study presents the current global scenario of tRNA genes and their organization in virus genomes, contributing and opening questions to be explored in further studies concerning the role of the translation apparatus in these organisms.

A Cryptic Non-Inducible Prophage Confers Phage-Immunity on the Streptococcus thermophilus M17PTZA496

Streptococcus thermophilus is considered one of the most important species for the dairy industry. Due to their diffusion in dairy environments, bacteriophages can represent a threat to this widely used bacterial species. Despite the presence of a CRISPR-Cas system in the S. thermophilus genome, some lysogenic strains harbor cryptic prophages that can increase the phage-host resistance defense. This characteristic was identified in the dairy strain S. thermophilus M17PTZA496, which contains two integrated prophages 51.8 and 28.3 Kb long, respectively. In the present study, defense mechanisms, such as a lipoprotein-encoding gene and Siphovirus Gp157, the last associated to the presence of a noncoding viral DNA element, were identified in the prophage M17PTZA496 genome. The ability to overexpress genes involved in these defense mechanisms under specific stressful conditions, such as phage attack, has been demonstrated. Despite the addition of increasing amounts of Mitomycin C, M17PTZA496 was found to be non-inducible. However, the transcriptional activity of the phage terminase large subunit was detected in the presence of the antagonist phage vB_SthS-VA460 and of Mitomycin C. The discovery of an additional immune mechanism, associated with bacteriophage-insensitive strains, is of utmost importance, for technological applications and industrial processes. To our knowledge, this is the first study reporting the capability of a prophage integrated into the S. thermophilus genome expressing different phage defense mechanisms. Bacteriophages are widespread entities that constantly threaten starter cultures in the dairy industry. In cheese and yogurt manufacturing, the lysis of Streptococcus thermophilus cultures by viral attacks can lead to huge economic losses. Nowadays S. thermophilus is considered a well-stablished model organism for the study of natural adaptive immunity (CRISPR-Cas) against phage and plasmids, however, the identification of novel bacteriophage-resistance mechanisms, in this species, is strongly desirable. Here, we demonstrated that the presence of a non-inducible prophage confers phage-immunity to an S. thermophilus strain, by the presence of ltp and a viral noncoding region. S. thermophilus M17PTZA496 arises as an unconventional model to study phage resistance and potentially represents an alternative starter strain for dairy productions.

Spontaneously induced prophages are abundant in a naturally evolved bacterial starter culture and deliver competitive advantage to the host

BACKGROUND

In complex microbial ecosystems such as the marine environment, the gastrointestinal tract, but also in mixed culture fermentations, bacteriophages are frequently found to be a part of the microbial community. Moreover, prophages or prophage-like elements are frequently identified in sequenced bacterial genomes. The mixed undefined starter cultures represent an ecosystem which is shaped by long term evolution under relatively defined environmental conditions and provides an interesting model to study co-evolution of phages and their hosts as well as the impact of diversity on microbial community stability.

RESULTS

In the present study we investigated the presence, identity and behaviour of prophages in lactococci being part of a complex cheese starter culture. Genome analysis of representative strains of the 7 genetic lineages of Lactococcus lactis constituting the culture indicated the presence of prophages in all strains. Exposure of potential lysogens to mitomycin C confirmed the release of ~ 1010·ml- 1 phage particles from all tested strains. Furthermore, phages were also released in substantial amounts due to spontaneous induction: more than 108·ml- 1 phage particles were present in cultures under non-inducing conditions. This observation suggests continuous release of phage particles by the lactococci. The released bacteriophages exhibited an unusual morphology. For most strains tested, tailless icosahedral phage heads were found. The competitive advantage of lysogens compared to their cured derivatives and their high abundance in the culture suggests that the released tailless bacteriophages play an important role in the ecosystem.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study indicate that chromosomal genetic elements are active participants in the stable complex microbial community of the starter culture. We show that prophages are abundant in such a community, are produced continuously in large amounts and, despite the huge metabolic burden imposed on the cells by phage particle production, provide a selective advantage to the host.

Characterization of a Prophage-Free Derivative Strain of Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis IL1403 Reveals the Importance of Prophages for Phenotypic Plasticity of the Host

Lactococcus lactis is a lactic acid bacterium of major importance for the dairy industry and for human health. Recent sequencing surveys of this species have provided evidence that all lactococcal genomes contain prophages and prophage-like elements. The prophage-related sequences encompass up to 10% of the bacterial chromosomes and thus contribute significantly to the genetic diversity of lactococci. However, the impact of these resident prophages on the physiology of L. lactis is presently unknown. The genome of the first sequenced prototype strain, L. lactis ssp. lactis IL1403, contains six prophage-like elements which together represent 6.7% of the IL1403 chromosome. Diverse prophage genes other than those encoding phage repressors have been shown to be expressed in lysogenic conditions, suggesting that prophage genes are indeed able to modulate the physiology of their host. To elucidate the effect of resident prophages on the behavior of L. lactis in different growth conditions, we constructed and characterized, for the first time, a derivative strain of IL1403 that is prophage-free. This strain provides unique experimental opportunities for the study of different aspects of lactococcal physiology using the well-defined genetic background of IL1403. Here, we show that resident prophages modify the growth and survival of the host strain to a considerable extent in different conditions, including in the gastrointestinal environment. They also may affect cellular autolytic properties and the host cells' susceptibility to virulent bacteriophages and antimicrobial agents. It thus appears that prophages contribute significantly to lactococcal cell physiology and might play an important role in the adaptation of L. lactis to cultivation and environmental conditions.

Parkinson's disease and bacteriophages as its overlooked contributors

Recent studies suggest that alterations in the gut phagobiota may contribute to pathophysiological processes in mammals; however, the association of bacteriophage community structure with Parkinson's disease (PD) has not been yet characterized. Towards this end, we used a published dataset to analyse bacteriophage composition and determine the phage/bacteria ratio in faecal samples from drug-naive PD patients and healthy participants. Our analyses revealed significant alterations in the representation of certain bacteriophages in the phagobiota of PD patients. We identified shifts of the phage/bacteria ratio in lactic acid bacteria known to produce dopamine and regulate intestinal permeability, which are major factors implicated in PD pathogenesis. Furthermore, we observed the depletion of Lactococcus spp. in the PD group, which was most likely due to the increase of lytic c2-like and 936-like lactococcal phages frequently present in dairy products. Our findings add bacteriophages to the list of possible factors associated with the development of PD, suggesting that gut phagobiota composition may serve as a diagnostic tool as well as a target for therapeutic intervention, which should be confirmed in further studies. Our results open a discussion on the role of environmental phages and phagobiota composition in health and disease.

Investigation of the bacteriophage community in induced lysates of undefined mesophilic mixed-strain DL-cultures using classical and metagenomic approaches

To investigate the notion that starter cultures can be a reservoir of bacteriophages (phages) in the dairy environment, strains of three DL-starters (undefined mesophilic mixed-strain starters containing Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis biovar. diacetylactis and Leuconostoc species) were selected and induced by mitomycin C, and the whole starters were induced spontaneously as well as by mitomycin C. Frequency of induction of 17%, 26% and 12% was estimated among the isolates of the three starters, with majority of the induced phages mostly showing morphological similarity to known P335 phages, and with a fraction of them showing atypical features. Sequences of P335 quasi-species phages were found to be the most frequent entities in almost all metaviromes derived from the induced lysates. However, sequences of Sk1virus phages (previously 936 phages) were emerged as the predominant entities following spontaneous induction of one of the starters, suggesting a phage-carrier state. Sequences of other phages such as 949, 1706, C2virus (previously c2 phages) and Leuconostoc species could also be observed but with a lower relative frequency. Taken together, the majority of the P335 quasi-species phages could represent the induced viral community of the starters and the remaining phage groups mainly represent the background ambient viral community.

A Decade of Streptococcus thermophilus Phage Evolution in an Irish Dairy Plant

Phages of Streptococcus thermophilus present a major threat to the production of many fermented dairy products. To date, only a few studies have assessed the biodiversity of S. thermophilus phages in dairy fermentations. In order to develop strategies to limit phage predation in this important industrial environment, it is imperative that such studies are undertaken and that phage-host interactions of this species are better defined. The present study investigated the biodiversity and evolution of phages within an Irish dairy fermentation facility over an 11-year period. This resulted in the isolation of 17 genetically distinct phages, all of which belong to the so-called cos group. The evolution of phages within the factory appears to be influenced by phages from other dairy plants introduced into the factory for whey protein powder production. Modular exchange, primarily within the regions encoding lysogeny and replication functions, was the major observation among the phages isolated between 2006 and 2016. Furthermore, the genotype of the first isolate in 2006 was observed continuously across the following decade, highlighting the ability of these phages to prevail in the factory setting for extended periods of time. The proteins responsible for host recognition were analyzed, and carbohydrate-binding domains (CBDs) were identified in the distal tail (Dit), the baseplate proteins, and the Tail-associated lysin (Tal) variable regions (VR1 and VR2) of many isolates. This supports the notion that S. thermophilus phages recognize a carbohydrate receptor on the cell surface of their host.IMPORTANCE Dairy fermentations are consistently threatened by the presence of bacterial viruses (bacteriophages or phages), which may lead to a reduction in acidification rates or even complete loss of the fermentate. These phages may persist in factories for long periods of time. The objective of the current study was to monitor the progression of phages infecting the dairy bacterium Streptococcus thermophilus over a period of 11 years in an Irish dairy plant so as to understand how these phages evolve. A focused analysis of the genomic region that encodes host recognition functions highlighted that the associated proteins harbor a variety of carbohydrate-binding domains, which corroborates the notion that phages of S. thermophilus recognize carbohydrate receptors at the initial stages of the phage cycle.

Versatile Cas9-Driven Subpopulation Selection Toolbox for Lactococcus lactis

CRISPR-Cas9 technology has been exploited for the removal or replacement of genetic elements in a wide range of prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Here, we describe the extension of the Cas9 application toolbox to the industrially important dairy species Lactococcus lactis The Cas9 expression vector pLABTarget, encoding the Streptocccus pyogenes Cas9 under the control of a constitutive promoter, was constructed, allowing plug and play introduction of short guide RNA (sgRNA) sequences to target specific genetic loci. Introduction of a pepN-targeting derivative of pLABTarget into L. lactis strain MG1363 led to a strong reduction in the number of transformants obtained, which did not occur in a pepN deletion derivative of the same strain, demonstrating the specificity and lethality of the Cas9-mediated double-strand breaks in the lactococcal chromosome. Moreover, the same pLABTarget derivative allowed the selection of a pepN deletion subpopulation from its corresponding single-crossover plasmid integrant precursor, accelerating the construction and selection of gene-specific deletion derivatives in L. lactis Finally, pLABTarget, which contained sgRNAs designed to target mobile genetic elements, allowed the effective curing of plasmids, prophages, and integrative conjugative elements (ICEs). These results establish that pLABTarget enables the effective exploitation of Cas9 targeting in L. lactis, while the broad-host-range vector used suggests that this toolbox could readily be expanded to other Gram-positive bacteria.IMPORTANCE Mobile genetic elements in Lactococcus lactis and other lactic acid bacteria (LAB) play an important role in dairy fermentation, having both positive and detrimental effects during the production of fermented dairy products. The pLABTarget vector offers an efficient cloning platform for Cas9 application in lactic acid bacteria. Targeting Cas9 toward mobile genetic elements enabled their effective curing, which is of particular interest in the context of potentially problematic prophages present in a strain. Moreover, Cas9 targeting of other mobile genetic elements enables the deciphering of their contribution to dairy fermentation processes and further establishment of their importance for product characteristics.

Biodiversity of bacteriophages infecting Lactococcus lactis starter cultures

In the current study, we characterized 137 Lactococcus lactis bacteriophages that had been isolated between 1997 and 2012 from whey samples obtained from industrial facilities located in 16 countries. Multiplex PCR grouping of these 137 phage isolates revealed that the majority (61.31%) belonged to the 936 group, with the remainder belonging to the P335 and c2 groups (23.36 and 15.33%, respectively). Restriction profile analysis of phage genomic DNA indicated a high degree of genetic diversity within this phage collection. Furthermore, based on a host-range survey of the phage collection using 113 dairy starter strains, we showed that the c2-group isolates exhibited a broader host range than isolates of the 936 and P335 groups.

Metagenomic Analysis of Dairy Bacteriophages: Extraction Method and Pilot Study on Whey Samples Derived from Using Undefined and Defined Mesophilic Starter Cultures

Despite being potentially highly useful for characterizing the biodiversity of phages, metagenomic studies are currently not available for dairy bacteriophages, partly due to the lack of a standard procedure for phage extraction. We optimized an extraction method that allows the removal of the bulk protein from whey and milk samples with losses of less than 50% of spiked phages. The protocol was applied to extract phages from whey in order to test the notion that members of Lactococcus lactis 936 (now Sk1virus), P335, c2 (now C2virus) and Leuconostoc phage groups are the most frequently encountered in the dairy environment. The relative abundance and diversity of phages in eight and four whey mixtures from dairies using undefined mesophilic mixed-strain cultures containing Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis biovar diacetylactis and Leuconostoc species (i.e., DL starter cultures) and defined cultures, respectively, were assessed. Results obtained from transmission electron microscopy and high-throughput sequence analyses revealed the dominance of Lc. lactis 936 phages (order Caudovirales, family Siphoviridae) in dairies using undefined DL starter cultures and Lc. lactis c2 phages (order Caudovirales, family Siphoviridae) in dairies using defined cultures. The 936 and Leuconostoc phages demonstrated limited diversity. Possible coinduction of temperate P335 prophages and satellite phages in one of the whey mixtures was also observed.IMPORTANCE The method optimized in this study could provide an important basis for understanding the dynamics of the phage community (abundance, development, diversity, evolution, etc.) in dairies with different sizes, locations, and production strategies. It may also enable the discovery of previously unknown phages, which is crucial for the development of rapid molecular biology-based methods for phage burden surveillance systems. The dominance of only a few phage groups in the dairy environment signifies the depth of knowledge gained over the past decades, which served as the basis for designing current phage control strategies. The presence of a correlation between phages and the type of starter cultures being used in dairies might help to improve the selection and/or design of suitable, custom, and cost-efficient phage control strategies.

Detecting Lactococcus lactis Prophages by Mitomycin C-Mediated Induction Coupled to Flow Cytometry Analysis

Most analyzed Lactococcus lactis strains are predicted to harbor one or more prophage genomes within their chromosome; however, the true extent of the inducibility and functionality of such prophages cannot easily be deduced from sequence analysis alone. Chemical treatment of lysogenic strains with Mitomycin C is known to cause induction of temperate phages, though it is not always easy to clearly identify a lysogenic strain or to measure the number of released phage particles. Here, we report the application of flow cytometry as a reliable tool for the detection and enumeration of released lactococcal prophages using the green dye SYTO-9.

Bacteriophage evolution differs by host, lifestyle and genome

Bacteriophages play key roles in microbial evolution^1,2, marine nutrient cycling³ and human disease⁴. Phages are genetically diverse, and their genome architectures are characteristically mosaic, driven by horizontal gene transfer with other phages and host genomes⁵. As a consequence, phage evolution is complex and their genomes are composed of genes with distinct and varied evolutionary histories^6,7. However, there are conflicting perspectives on the roles of mosaicism and the extent to which it generates a spectrum of genome diversity⁸ or genetically discrete populations^9,10. Here, we show that bacteriophages evolve within two general evolutionary modes that differ in the extent of horizontal gene transfer by an order of magnitude. Temperate phages distribute into high and low gene flux modes, whereas lytic phages share only the lower gene flux mode. The evolutionary modes are also a function of the bacterial host and different proportions of temperate and lytic phages are distributed in either mode depending on the host phylum. Groups of genetically related phages fall into either the high or low gene flux modes, suggesting there are genetic as well as ecological drivers of horizontal gene transfer rates. Consequently, genome mosaicism varies depending on the host, lifestyle and genetic constitution of phages.

Comparative and functional genomics of the Lactococcus lactis taxon; insights into evolution and niche adaptation

Background

Lactococcus lactis is among the most widely studied lactic acid bacterial species due to its long history of safe use and economic importance to the dairy industry, where it is exploited as a starter culture in cheese production.

Results

In the current study, we report on the complete sequencing of 16 L. lactis subsp. lactis and L. lactis subsp. cremoris genomes. The chromosomal features of these 16 L. lactis strains in conjunction with 14 completely sequenced, publicly available lactococcal chromosomes were assessed with particular emphasis on discerning the L. lactis subspecies division, evolution and niche adaptation. The deduced pan-genome of L. lactis was found to be closed, indicating that the representative data sets employed for this analysis are sufficient to fully describe the genetic diversity of the taxon.

Conclusions

Niche adaptation appears to play a significant role in governing the genetic content of each L. lactis subspecies, while (differential) genome decay and redundancy in the dairy niche is also highlighted.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-017-3650-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Structures of cell-wall glycopolymers of Lactococcus lactis BIM B-1024

Glycopolymers of two types were isolated from the cell wall of Lactococcus lactis BIM B-1024 by stepwise extraction with cold and hot 10% CCl3CO2H and separated by anion-exchange gel chromatography. The following structures of the glycopolymers were established by sugar analysis, dephosphorylation with 48% HF, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, and ESI-MS:

β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Glcp-(1→6)┐

→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Glcp-(1→4)-α-D-Glcp-(1→ PSI

β-D-Glcp-(1→3)┐

→60-α-D-GalpNAc-(1→3)-β-D-GalpNAc-(1→5)-Rib-ol-1-P-(O→ PSII

β-D-Glcp-(1→4)┘

Polysaccharides with the same or similar structures to PSI have been found earlier in various Lactobacillus species, whereas, to our knowledge, the structure of PSII is new.

Phage-inducible islands in the Gram-positive cocci

The SaPIs are a cohesive subfamily of extremely common phage-inducible chromosomal islands (PICIs) that reside quiescently at specific att sites in the staphylococcal chromosome and are induced by helper phages to excise and replicate. They are usually packaged in small capsids composed of phage virion proteins, giving rise to very high transfer frequencies, which they enhance by interfering with helper phage reproduction. As the SaPIs represent a highly successful biological strategy, with many natural Staphylococcus aureus strains containing two or more, we assumed that similar elements would be widespread in the Gram-positive cocci. On the basis of resemblance to the paradigmatic SaPI genome, we have readily identified large cohesive families of similar elements in the lactococci and pneumococci/streptococci plus a few such elements in Enterococcus faecalis. Based on extensive ortholog analyses, we found that the PICI elements in the four different genera all represent distinct but parallel lineages, suggesting that they represent convergent evolution towards a highly successful lifestyle. We have characterized in depth the enterococcal element, EfCIV583, and have shown that it very closely resembles the SaPIs in functionality as well as in genome organization, setting the stage for expansion of the study of elements of this type. In summary, our findings greatly broaden the PICI family to include elements from at least three genera of cocci.

Expression of prophage-encoded endolysins contributes to autolysis of Lactococcus lactis

Analysis of autolysis of derivatives of Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris MG1363 and subsp. lactis IL1403, both lacking the major autolysin AcmA, showed that L. lactis IL1403 still lysed during growth while L. lactis MG1363 did not. Zymographic analysis revealed that a peptidoglycan hydrolase activity of around 30 kDa is present in cell extracts of L. lactis IL1403 that could not be detected in strain MG1363. A comparison of all genes encoding putative peptidoglycan hydrolases of IL1403 and MG1363 led to the assumption that one or more of the 99 % homologous 27.9-kDa endolysins encoded by the prophages bIL285, bIL286 and bIL309 could account for the autolysis phenotype of IL1403. Induced expression of the endolysins from bIL285, bIL286 or bIL309 in L. lactis MG1363 resulted in detectable lysis or lytic activity. Prophage deletion and insertion derivatives of L. lactis IL1403 had a reduced cell lysis phenotype. RT-qPCR and zymogram analysis showed that each of these strains still expressed one or more of the three phage lysins. A homologous gene and an endolysin activity were also identified in the natural starter culture L. lactis subsp. cremoris strains E8, Wg2 and HP, and the lytic activity could be detected under growth conditions that were identical as those used for IL1403. The results presented here show that these endolysins of L. lactis are expressed during normal growth and contribute to autolysis without production of (lytic) phages. Screening for natural strains expressing homologous endolysins could help in the selection of strains with enhanced autolysis and, thus, cheese ripening properties.

Next-generation sequencing as an approach to dairy starter selection

Lactococcal and streptococcal starter strains are crucial ingredients to manufacture fermented dairy products. As commercial starter culture suppliers and dairy producers attempt to overcome issues of phage sensitivity and develop new product ranges, there is an ever increasing need to improve technologies for the rational selection of novel starter culture blends. Whole genome sequencing, spurred on by recent advances in next-generation sequencing platforms, is a promising approach to facilitate rapid identification and selection of such strains based on gene-trait matching. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the available methodologies to analyse the technological potential of candidate starter strains and highlights recent advances in the area of dairy starter genomics.

Temperate phages acquire DNA from defective prophages by relaxed homologous recombination: the role of Rad52-like recombinases

Bacteriophages (or phages) dominate the biosphere both numerically and in terms of genetic diversity. In particular, genomic comparisons suggest a remarkable level of horizontal gene transfer among temperate phages, favoring a high evolution rate. Molecular mechanisms of this pervasive mosaicism are mostly unknown. One hypothesis is that phage encoded recombinases are key players in these horizontal transfers, thanks to their high efficiency and low fidelity. Here, we associate two complementary in vivo assays and a bioinformatics analysis to address the role of phage encoded recombinases in genomic mosaicism. The first assay allowed determining the genetic determinants of mosaic formation between lambdoid phages and Escherichia coli prophage remnants. In the second assay, recombination was monitored between sequences on phage λ, and allowed to compare the performance of three different Rad52-like recombinases on the same substrate. We also addressed the importance of homologous recombination in phage evolution by a genomic comparison of 84 E. coli virulent and temperate phages or prophages. We demonstrate that mosaics are mainly generated by homology-driven mechanisms that tolerate high substrate divergence. We show that phage encoded Rad52-like recombinases act independently of RecA, and that they are relatively more efficient when the exchanged fragments are divergent. We also show that accessory phage genes orf and rap contribute to mosaicism. A bioinformatics analysis strengthens our experimental results by showing that homologous recombination left traces in temperate phage genomes at the borders of recently exchanged fragments. We found no evidence of exchanges between virulent and temperate phages of E. coli. Altogether, our results demonstrate that Rad52-like recombinases promote gene shuffling among temperate phages, accelerating their evolution. This mechanism may prove to be more general, as other mobile genetic elements such as ICE encode Rad52-like functions, and play an important role in bacterial evolution itself.

Current taxonomy of phages infecting lactic acid bacteria

Phages infecting lactic acid bacteria have been the focus of significant research attention over the past three decades. Through the isolation and characterization of hundreds of phage isolates, it has been possible to classify phages of the dairy starter and adjunct bacteria Lactococus lactis, Streptococcus thermophilus, Leuconostoc spp., and Lactobacillus spp. Among these, phages of L. lactis have been most thoroughly scrutinized and serve as an excellent model system to address issues that arise when attempting taxonomic classification of phages infecting other LAB species. Here, we present an overview of the current taxonomy of phages infecting LAB genera of industrial significance, the methods employed in these taxonomic efforts and how these may be employed for the taxonomy of phages of currently underrepresented and emerging phage species.

Phages of non-dairy lactococci: isolation and characterization of ΦL47, a phage infecting the grass isolate Lactococcus lactis ssp. cremoris DPC6860

Lactococci isolated from non-dairy sources have been found to possess enhanced metabolic activity when compared to dairy strains. These capabilities may be harnessed through the use of these strains as starter or adjunct cultures to produce more diverse flavor profiles in cheese and other dairy products. To understand the interactions between these organisms and the phages that infect them, a number of phages were isolated against lactococcal strains of non-dairy origin. One such phage, ΦL47, was isolated from a sewage sample using the grass isolate L. lactis ssp. cremoris DPC6860 as a host. Visualization of phage virions by transmission electron microscopy established that this phage belongs to the family Siphoviridae and possesses a long tail fiber, previously unseen in dairy lactococcal phages. Determination of the lytic spectrum revealed a broader than expected host range, with ΦL47 capable of infecting 4 industrial dairy strains, including ML8, HP and 310, and 3 additional non-dairy isolates. Whole genome sequencing of ΦL47 revealed a dsDNA genome of 128, 546 bp, making it the largest sequenced lactococcal phage to date. In total, 190 open reading frames (ORFs) were identified, and comparative analysis revealed that the predicted products of 117 of these ORFs shared greater than 50% amino acid identity with those of L. lactis phage Φ949, a phage isolated from cheese whey. Despite their different ecological niches, the genomic content and organization of ΦL47 and Φ949 are quite similar, with both containing 4 gene clusters oriented in different transcriptional directions. Other features that distinguish ΦL47 from Φ949 and other lactococcal phages, in addition to the presence of the tail fiber and the genome length, include a low GC content (32.5%) and a high number of predicted tRNA genes (8). Comparative genome analysis supports the conclusion that ΦL47 is a new member of the 949 lactococcal phage group which currently includes the dairy Φ949.

Interaction between the genomes of Lactococcus lactis and phages of the P335 species

Phages of the P335 species infect Lactococcus lactis and have been particularly studied because of their association with strains of L. lactis subsp. cremoris used as dairy starter cultures. Unlike other lactococcal phages, those of the P335 species may have a temperate or lytic lifestyle, and are believed to originate from the starter cultures themselves. We have sequenced the genome of L. lactis subsp. cremoris KW2 isolated from fermented corn and found that it contains an integrated P335 species prophage. This 41 kb prophage (Φ KW2) has a mosaic structure with functional modules that are highly similar to several other phages of the P335 species associated with dairy starter cultures. Comparison of the genomes of 26 phages of the P335 species, with either a lytic or temperate lifestyle, shows that they can be divided into three groups and that the morphogenesis gene region is the most conserved. Analysis of these phage genomes in conjunction with the genomes of several L. lactis strains shows that prophage insertion is site specific and occurs at seven different chromosomal locations. Exactly how induced or lytic phages of the P335 species interact with carbohydrate cell surface receptors in the host cell envelope remains to be determined. Genes for the biosynthesis of a variable cell surface polysaccharide and for lipoteichoic acids (LTAs) are found in L. lactis and are the main candidates for phage receptors, as the genes for other cell surface carbohydrates have been lost from dairy starter strains. Overall, phages of the P335 species appear to have had only a minor role in the adaptation of L. lactis subsp. cremoris strains to the dairy environment, and instead they appear to be an integral part of the L. lactis chromosome. There remains a great deal to be discovered about their role, and their contribution to the evolution of the bacterial genome.

Lytic infection of Lactococcus lactis by bacteriophages Tuc2009 and c2 triggers alternative transcriptional host responses

Here we present an entire temporal transcriptional profile of Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris UC509.9 undergoing lytic infection with two distinct bacteriophages, Tuc2009 and c2. Furthermore, corresponding high-resolution whole-phage genome tiling arrays of both bacteriophages were performed throughout lytic infection. Whole-genome microarrays performed at various time points postinfection demonstrated a rather modest impact on host transcription. The majority of changes in the host transcriptome occur during late infection stages; few changes in host gene transcription occur during the immediate and early infection stages. Alterations in the L. lactis UC509.9 transcriptome during lytic infection appear to be phage specific, with relatively few differentially transcribed genes shared between cells infected with Tuc2009 and those infected with c2. Despite the apparent lack of a coordinated general phage response, three themes common to both infections were noted: alternative transcription of genes involved in catabolic flux and energy production, differential transcription of genes involved in cell wall modification, and differential transcription of genes involved in the conversion of ribonucleotides to deoxyribonucleotides. The transcriptional profiles of both bacteriophages during lytic infection generally correlated with the findings of previous studies and allowed the confirmation of previously predicted promoter sequences. In addition, the host transcriptional response to lysogenization with Tuc2009 was monitored along with tiling array analysis of Tuc2009 in the lysogenic state. Analysis identified 44 host genes with altered transcription during lysogeny, 36 of which displayed levels of transcription significantly reduced from those for uninfected cells.

Comparative genomic analysis of bacteriophage EP23 infecting Shigella sonnei and Escherichia coli

Bacteriophage EP23 that infects Escherichia coli and Shigella sonnei was isolated and characterized. The bacteriophage morphology was similar to members of the family Siphoviridae. The 44,077 bp genome was fully sequenced using 454 pyrosequencing. Comparative genomic and phylogenetic analyses showed that EP23 was most closely related to phage SO-1, which infects Sodalis glossinidius and phage SSL-2009a, which infects engineered E. coli. Genomic comparison indicated that EP23 and SO-1 were very similar with each other in terms of gene order and amino acid similarity, even though their hosts were separated in the level of genus. EP23 and SSL-2009a displayed high amino acid similarity between their genes, but there was evidence of several recombination events in SSL-2009a. The results of the comparative genomic analyses further the understanding of the evolution and relationship between EP23 and its bacteriophage relatives.

The genomes and comparative genomics of Lactobacillus delbrueckii phages

Lactobacillus delbrueckii phages are a great source of genetic diversity. Here, the genome sequences of Lb. delbrueckii phages LL-Ku, c5 and JCL1032 were analyzed in detail, and the genetic diversity of Lb. delbrueckii phages belonging to different taxonomic groups was explored. The lytic isometric group b phages LL-Ku (31,080 bp) and c5 (31,841 bp) showed a minimum nucleotide sequence identity of 90% over about three-fourths of their genomes. The genomic locations of their lysis modules were unique, and the genomes featured several putative overlapping transcription units of genes. LL-Ku and c5 virions displayed peptidoglycan hydrolytic activity associated with a ~36-kDa protein similar in size to the endolysin. Unexpectedly, the 49,433-bp genome of the prolate phage JCL1032 (temperate, group c) revealed a conserved gene order within its structural genes. Lb. delbrueckii phages representing groups a (a phage LL-H), b and c possessed only limited protein sequence homology. Genomic comparison of LL-Ku and c5 suggested that diversification of Lb. delbrueckii phages is mainly due to insertions, deletions and recombination. For the first time, the complete genome sequences of group b and c Lb. delbrueckii phages are reported.

Chromosomal diversity in Lactococcus lactis and the origin of dairy starter cultures

A large collection of Lactococcus lactis strains, including wild-type isolates and dairy starter cultures, were screened on the basis of their phenotype and the macrorestriction patterns produced from pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) analysis of SmaI digests of genomic DNA. Three groups of dairy starter cultures, used for different purposes in the dairy industry, and a fourth group made up of strains isolated from the environment were selected for analysis of their chromosomal diversity using the endonuclease I-CeuI. Chromosome architecture was largely conserved with each strain having six copies of the rRNA genes, and the chromosome size of individual strains ranged between 2,240 and 2,688 kb. The origin of L. lactis strains showed the greatest correlation with chromosome size, and dairy strains, particularly those with the cremoris phenotype, had smaller chromosomes than wild-type strains. Overall, this study, coupled with analysis of the sequenced L. lactis genomes, provides evidence that defined strain dairy starter cultures have arisen from plant L. lactis strains. Adaptation of these strains to the dairy environment has involved loss of functions resulting in smaller chromosomes and acquisition of genes (usually plasmid associated) that facilitate growth in milk. We conclude that dairy starter cultures generally and the industrially used cremoris and diacetylactis phenotype strains in particular comprise a specialized group of L. lactis strains that have been selected to become an essential component of industrial processes and have evolved accordingly, so that they are no longer fit to survive outside the dairy environment.