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Topka-Bielecka G, Bloch S, Nejman-Faleńczyk B, Grabski M, Jurczak-Kurek A, Górniak M, Dydecka A, Necel A, Węgrzyn G, Węgrzyn A. Characterization of the Bacteriophage vB_EfaS-271 Infecting Enterococcus faecalis. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21176345. [PMID: 32882938 PMCID: PMC7503890 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21176345] [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: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
A newly isolated bacteriophage infecting Enterococcus faecalis strains has been characterized, including determination of its molecular features. This phage, named vB_EfaS-271, has been classified as a Siphoviridae member, according to electron microscopy characterization of the virions, composed of a 50 nm-diameter head and a long, flexible, noncontractable tail (219 × 12.5 nm). Analysis of the whole dsDNA genome of this phage showed that it consists of 40,197 bp and functional modules containing genes coding for proteins that are involved in DNA replication (including DNA polymerase/primase), morphogenesis, packaging and cell lysis. Mass spectrometry analysis allowed us to identify several phage-encoded proteins. vB_EfaS-271 reveals a relatively narrow host range, as it is able to infect only a few E. faecalis strains. On the other hand, it is a virulent phage (unable to lysogenize host cells), effectively and quickly destroying cultures of sensitive host bacteria, with a latent period as short as 8 min and burst size of approximately 70 phages per cell at 37 °C. This phage was also able to destroy biofilms formed by E. faecalis. These results contribute to our understanding of the biodiversity of bacteriophages, confirming the high variability among these viruses and indicating specific genetic and functional features of vB_EfaS-271.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gracja Topka-Bielecka
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland; (G.T.-B.); (B.N.-F.); (M.G.); (A.D.); (A.N.); (G.W.)
| | - Sylwia Bloch
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kładki 24, 80-822 Gdansk, Poland;
| | - Bożena Nejman-Faleńczyk
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland; (G.T.-B.); (B.N.-F.); (M.G.); (A.D.); (A.N.); (G.W.)
| | - Michał Grabski
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland; (G.T.-B.); (B.N.-F.); (M.G.); (A.D.); (A.N.); (G.W.)
- Laboratory of Marine Biogeochemistry, Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Powstańców Warszawy 55, 81-712 Sopot, Poland
| | - Agata Jurczak-Kurek
- Department of Molecular Evolution, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland; (A.J.-K.); (M.G.)
| | - Marcin Górniak
- Department of Molecular Evolution, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland; (A.J.-K.); (M.G.)
| | - Aleksandra Dydecka
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland; (G.T.-B.); (B.N.-F.); (M.G.); (A.D.); (A.N.); (G.W.)
| | - Agnieszka Necel
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland; (G.T.-B.); (B.N.-F.); (M.G.); (A.D.); (A.N.); (G.W.)
| | - Grzegorz Węgrzyn
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland; (G.T.-B.); (B.N.-F.); (M.G.); (A.D.); (A.N.); (G.W.)
| | - Alicja Węgrzyn
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kładki 24, 80-822 Gdansk, Poland;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-58-523-6040
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