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Ouyang R, Ongenae V, Muok A, Claessen D, Briegel A. Phage fibers and spikes: a nanoscale Swiss army knife for host infection. Curr Opin Microbiol 2024; 77:102429. [PMID: 38277900 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2024.102429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
Bacteriophages are being rediscovered as potent agents for medical and industrial applications. However, finding a suitable phage relies on numerous factors, including host specificity, burst size, and infection cycle. The host range of a phage is, besides phage defense systems, initially determined by the recognition and attachment of receptor-binding proteins (RBPs) to the target receptors of susceptible bacteria. RBPs include tail (or occasionally head) fibers and tailspikes. Owing to the potential flexibility and heterogeneity of these structures, they are often overlooked during structural studies. Recent advances in cryo-electron microscopy studies and computational approaches have begun to unravel their structural and fundamental mechanisms during phage infection. In this review, we discuss the current state of research on different phage tail and head fibers, spike models, and molecular mechanisms. These details may facilitate the manipulation of phage-host specificity, which in turn will have important implications for science and society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruochen Ouyang
- Department of Microbial Sciences, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE Leiden, the Netherlands; MOE 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
| | - Véronique Ongenae
- Department of Microbial Sciences, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE Leiden, the Netherlands; Centre for Microbial Cell Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Alise Muok
- Department of Microbial Sciences, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Dennis Claessen
- Department of Microbial Sciences, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE Leiden, the Netherlands; Centre for Microbial Cell Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Ariane Briegel
- Department of Microbial Sciences, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE Leiden, the Netherlands; Centre for Microbial Cell Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands.
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Kallies R, Hu D, Abdulkadir N, Schloter M, Rocha U. Identification of Huge Phages from Wastewater Metagenomes. Viruses 2023; 15:2330. [PMID: 38140571 PMCID: PMC10747093 DOI: 10.3390/v15122330] [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: 10/29/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Huge phages have genomes larger than 200 kilobases, which are particularly interesting for their genetic inventory and evolution. We screened 165 wastewater metagenomes for the presence of viral sequences. After identifying over 600 potential huge phage genomes, we reduced the dataset using manual curation by excluding viral contigs that did not contain viral protein-coding genes or consisted of concatemers of several small phage genomes. This dataset showed seven fully annotated huge phage genomes. The phages grouped into distinct phylogenetic clades, likely forming new genera and families. A phylogenomic analysis between our huge phages and phages with smaller genomes, i.e., less than 200 kb, supported the hypothesis that huge phages have undergone convergent evolution. The genomes contained typical phage protein-coding genes, sequential gene cassettes for metabolic pathways, and complete inventories of tRNA genes covering all standard and rare amino acids. Our study showed a pipeline for huge phage analyses that may lead to new enzymes for therapeutic or biotechnological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- René Kallies
- Department for Environmental Microbiology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Permoserstr. 15, D-04318 Leipzig, Germany; (D.H.); (N.A.)
| | - Die Hu
- Department for Environmental Microbiology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Permoserstr. 15, D-04318 Leipzig, Germany; (D.H.); (N.A.)
| | - Nafi’u Abdulkadir
- Department for Environmental Microbiology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Permoserstr. 15, D-04318 Leipzig, Germany; (D.H.); (N.A.)
| | - Michael Schloter
- Department of Environmental Health, Helmholtz Munich, Ingolstaedter Landstr. 1, D-85758 Neuherberg, Germany;
| | - Ulisses Rocha
- Department for Environmental Microbiology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Permoserstr. 15, D-04318 Leipzig, Germany; (D.H.); (N.A.)
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Noreika A, Rutkiene R, Dumalakienė I, Vilienė R, Laurynėnas A, Povilonienė S, Skapas M, Meškys R, Kaliniene L. Insights into the Alcyoneusvirus Adsorption Complex. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24119320. [PMID: 37298271 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24119320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The structures of the Caudovirales phage tails are key factors in determining the host specificity of these viruses. However, because of the enormous structural diversity, the molecular anatomy of the host recognition apparatus has been elucidated in only a number of phages. Klebsiella viruses vB_KleM_RaK2 (RaK2) and phiK64-1, which form a new genus Alcyoneusvirus according to the ICTV, have perhaps one of the most structurally sophisticated adsorption complexes of all tailed viruses described to date. Here, to gain insight into the early steps of the alcyoneusvirus infection process, the adsorption apparatus of bacteriophage RaK2 is studied in silico and in vitro. We experimentally demonstrate that ten proteins, gp098 and gp526-gp534, previously designated as putative structural/tail fiber proteins (TFPs), are present in the adsorption complex of RaK2. We show that two of these proteins, gp098 and gp531, are essential for attaching to Klebsiella pneumoniae KV-3 cells: gp531 is an active depolymerase that recognizes and degrades the capsule of this particular host, while gp098 is a secondary receptor-binding protein that requires the coordinated action of gp531. Finally, we demonstrate that RaK2 long tail fibers consist of nine TFPs, seven of which are depolymerases, and propose a model for their assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Algirdas Noreika
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Institute of Biochemistry, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Saulėtekio Av. 7, LT-10257 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Rasa Rutkiene
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Institute of Biochemistry, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Saulėtekio Av. 7, LT-10257 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Irena Dumalakienė
- Department of Immunology, State Research Institute Center for Innovative Medicine, Santariškių St. 5, LT-08410 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Rita Vilienė
- Department of Immunology, State Research Institute Center for Innovative Medicine, Santariškių St. 5, LT-08410 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Audrius Laurynėnas
- Department of Bioanalysis, Institute of Biochemistry, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Saulėtekio Av. 7, LT-10257 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Simona Povilonienė
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Institute of Biochemistry, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Saulėtekio Av. 7, LT-10257 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Martynas Skapas
- Department of Characterisation of Materials Structure, Center for Physical Sciences and Technology, Saulėtekio Av. 3, LT-10257 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Rolandas Meškys
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Institute of Biochemistry, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Saulėtekio Av. 7, LT-10257 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Laura Kaliniene
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Institute of Biochemistry, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Saulėtekio Av. 7, LT-10257 Vilnius, Lithuania
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Jo D, Kim H, Lee Y, Kim J, Ryu S. Characterization and genomic study of EJP2, a novel jumbo phage targeting antimicrobial resistant Escherichia coli. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1194435. [PMID: 37250060 PMCID: PMC10213699 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1194435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) Escherichia coli has noticeably increased in recent years worldwide and causes serious public health concerns. As alternatives to antibiotics, bacteriophages are regarded as promising antimicrobial agents. In this study, we isolated and characterized a novel jumbo phage EJP2 that specifically targets AMR E. coli strains. EJP2 belonged to the Myoviridae family with an icosahedral head (120.9 ± 2.9 nm) and a non-contractile tail (111.1 ± 0.6 nm), and contained 349,185 bp double-stranded DNA genome with 540 putative ORFs, suggesting that EJP2 could be classified as jumbo phage. The functions of genes identified in EJP2 genome were mainly related to nucleotide metabolism, DNA replication, and recombination. Comparative genomic analysis revealed that EJP2 was categorized in the group of Rak2-related virus and presented low sequence similarity at the nucleotide and amino acid level compared to other E. coli jumbo phages. EJP2 had a broad host spectrum against AMR E. coli as well as pathogenic E. coli and recognized LPS as a receptor for infection. Moreover, EJP2 treatment could remove over 80% of AMR E. coli biofilms on 96-well polystyrene, and exhibit synergistic antimicrobial activity with cefotaxime against AMR E. coli. These results suggest that jumbo phage EJP2 could be used as a potential biocontrol agent to combat the AMR issue in food processing and clinical environments.
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Śliwka P, Weber-Dąbrowska B, Żaczek M, Kuźmińska-Bajor M, Dusza I, Skaradzińska A. Characterization and Comparative Genomic Analysis of Three Virulent E. coli Bacteriophages with the Potential to Reduce Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria in the Environment. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065696. [PMID: 36982770 PMCID: PMC10059673 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The emerging global crisis of antibiotic resistance demands new alternative antibacterial solutions. Although bacteriophages have been used to combat bacterial infections for over a century, a dramatic boost in phage studies has recently been observed. In the development of modern phage applications, a scientific rationale is strongly required and newly isolated phages need to be examined in detail. In this study, we present the full characterization of bacteriophages BF9, BF15, and BF17, with lytic activity against extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs)- and AmpC β-lactamases (AmpC)-producing Escherichia coli, the prevalence of which has increased significantly in livestock in recent decades, representing a great hazard to food safety and a public health risk. Comparative genomic and phylogenetic analysis indicated that BF9, BF15, and BF17 represent the genera Dhillonvirus, Tequatrovirus, and Asteriusvirus, respectively. All three phages significantly reduced in vitro growth of their bacterial host and retained the ability to lyse bacteria after preincubation at wide ranges of temperature (−20–40 °C) and pH (5–9). The results described herein indicate the lytic nature of BF9, BF15, and BF17, which, along with the absence of genes encoding toxins and bacterial virulence factors, represents an undoubted asset in terms of future phage application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulina Śliwka
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Microbiology, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-375 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Beata Weber-Dąbrowska
- Bacteriophage Laboratory, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland
- Phage Therapy Unit, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Maciej Żaczek
- Bacteriophage Laboratory, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Marta Kuźmińska-Bajor
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Microbiology, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-375 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Izabela Dusza
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Microbiology, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-375 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Aneta Skaradzińska
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Microbiology, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-375 Wrocław, Poland
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-71-320-7791
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Buttimer C, Sutton T, Colom J, Murray E, Bettio PH, Smith L, Bolocan AS, Shkoporov A, Oka A, Liu B, Herzog JW, Sartor RB, Draper LA, Ross RP, Hill C. Impact of a phage cocktail targeting Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis as members of a gut bacterial consortium in vitro and in vivo. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:936083. [PMID: 35935217 PMCID: PMC9355613 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.936083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis have been implicated as important players in human gut health that have been associated with the onset of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Bacteriophage (phage) therapy has been used for decades to target pathogens as an alternative to antibiotics, but the ability of phage to shape complex bacterial consortia in the lower gastrointestinal tract is not clearly understood. We administered a cocktail of six phages (either viable or heat-inactivated) targeting pro-inflammatory Escherichia coli LF82 and Enterococcus faecalis OG1RF as members of a defined community in both a continuous fermenter and a murine colitis model. The two target strains were members of a six species simplified human microbiome consortium (SIHUMI-6). In a 72-h continuous fermentation, the phage cocktail caused a 1.1 and 1.5 log (log10 genome copies/mL) reduction in E. faecalis and E. coli numbers, respectively. This interaction was accompanied by changes in the numbers of other SIHUMI-6 members, with an increase of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (1.7 log) and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (1.8 log). However, in germ-free mice colonized by the same bacterial consortium, the same phage cocktail administered twice a week over nine weeks did not cause a significant reduction of the target strains. Mice treated with active or inactive phage had similar levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IFN-y/IL12p40) in unstimulated colorectal colonic strip cultures. However, histology scores of the murine lower GIT (cecum and distal colon) were lower in the viable phage-treated mice, suggesting that the phage cocktail did influence the functionality of the SIHUMI-6 consortium. For this study, we conclude that the observed potential of phages to reduce host populations in in vitro models did not translate to a similar outcome in an in vivo setting, with this effect likely brought about by the reduction of phage numbers during transit of the mouse GIT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin Buttimer
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Tom Sutton
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Joan Colom
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Ellen Murray
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Pedro H. Bettio
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Linda Smith
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | | | | | - Akihiko Oka
- Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University, Izumo, Japan
| | - Bo Liu
- Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Jeremy W. Herzog
- Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - R. Balfour Sartor
- Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | | | - R. Paul Ross
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Colin Hill
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
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Dewanggana MN, Evangeline C, Ketty MD, Waturangi DE, Yogiara, Magdalena S. Isolation, characterization, molecular analysis and application of bacteriophage DW-EC to control Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli on various foods. Sci Rep 2022; 12:495. [PMID: 35017610 PMCID: PMC8752677 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-04534-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Among food preservation methods, bacteriophage treatment can be a viable alternative method to overcome the drawbacks of traditional approaches. Bacteriophages are naturally occurring viruses that are highly specific to their hosts and have the capability to lyse bacterial cells, making them useful as biopreservation agents. This study aims to characterize and determine the application of bacteriophage isolated from Indonesian traditional Ready-to-Eat (RTE) food to control Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) population in various foods. Phage DW-EC isolated from Indonesian traditional RTE food called dawet with ETEC as its host showed a positive result by the formation of plaques (clear zone) in the bacterial host lawn. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results also showed that DW-EC can be suspected to belong to the Myoviridae family. Molecular characterization and bioinformatic analysis showed that DW-EC exhibited characteristics as promising biocontrol agents in food samples. Genes related to the lytic cycle, such as lysozyme and tail fiber assembly protein, were annotated. There were also no signs of lysogenic genes among the annotation results. The resulting PHACTS data also indicated that DW-EC was leaning toward being exclusively lytic. DW-EC significantly reduced the ETEC population (P ≤ 0.05) in various food samples after two different incubation times (1 day and 6 days) in chicken meat (80.93%; 87.29%), fish meat (63.78%; 87.89%), cucumber (61.42%; 71.88%), tomato (56.24%; 74.51%), and lettuce (46.88%; 43.38%).
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Nisita Dewanggana
- Biotechnology Department, Faculty of Biotechnology, Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia, Jenderal Sudirman 51 Street, South Jakarta, DKI Jakarta, 12930, Indonesia
| | - Clare Evangeline
- Biotechnology Department, Faculty of Biotechnology, Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia, Jenderal Sudirman 51 Street, South Jakarta, DKI Jakarta, 12930, Indonesia
- Food Technology Department, Faculty of Biotechnology, Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Maurita Delia Ketty
- Biotechnology Department, Faculty of Biotechnology, Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia, Jenderal Sudirman 51 Street, South Jakarta, DKI Jakarta, 12930, Indonesia
- Food Technology Department, Faculty of Biotechnology, Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Diana Elizabeth Waturangi
- Biotechnology Department, Faculty of Biotechnology, Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia, Jenderal Sudirman 51 Street, South Jakarta, DKI Jakarta, 12930, Indonesia.
| | - Yogiara
- Biotechnology Department, Faculty of Biotechnology, Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia, Jenderal Sudirman 51 Street, South Jakarta, DKI Jakarta, 12930, Indonesia
| | - Stella Magdalena
- Biotechnology Department, Faculty of Biotechnology, Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia, Jenderal Sudirman 51 Street, South Jakarta, DKI Jakarta, 12930, Indonesia
- Food Technology Department, Faculty of Biotechnology, Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
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Miroshnikov KA, Evseev PV, Lukianova AA, Ignatov AN. Tailed Lytic Bacteriophages of Soft Rot Pectobacteriaceae. Microorganisms 2021; 9:1819. [PMID: 34576713 PMCID: PMC8472413 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9091819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The study of the ecological and evolutionary traits of Soft Rot Pectobacteriaceae (SRP) comprising genera Pectobacterium and Dickeya often involves bacterial viruses (bacteriophages). Bacteriophages are considered to be a prospective tool for the ecologically safe and highly specific protection of plants and harvests from bacterial diseases. Information concerning bacteriophages has been growing rapidly in recent years, and this has included new genomics-based principles of taxonomic distribution. In this review, we summarise the data on phages infecting Pectobacterium and Dickeya that are available in publications and genomic databases. The analysis highlights not only major genomic properties that assign phages to taxonomic families and genera, but also the features that make them potentially suitable for phage control applications. Specifically, there is a discussion of the molecular mechanisms of receptor recognition by the phages and problems concerning the evolution of phage-resistant mutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantin A Miroshnikov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya Str., 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia
- Timiryazev Agricultural Academy, Russian State Agrarian University, Timiryazevskaya Str., 49, 127434 Moscow, Russia
| | - Peter V Evseev
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya Str., 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Anna A Lukianova
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya Str., 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia
- Timiryazev Agricultural Academy, Russian State Agrarian University, Timiryazevskaya Str., 49, 127434 Moscow, Russia
- Department of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory, 1, bldg. 12, 119234 Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander N Ignatov
- Timiryazev Agricultural Academy, Russian State Agrarian University, Timiryazevskaya Str., 49, 127434 Moscow, Russia
- Agrobiotechnology Department, Agrarian and Technological Institute, RUDN University, Miklukho-Maklaya Str., 6, 117198 Moscow, Russia
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Fong K, Wong CW, Wang S, Delaquis P. How Broad Is Enough: The Host Range of Bacteriophages and Its Impact on the Agri-Food Sector. PHAGE 2021; 2:83-91. [PMID: 36148040 PMCID: PMC9041489 DOI: 10.1089/phage.2020.0036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Novel bacteriophages (phages) possessing a broad host range are consistently and routinely reported, yet there is presently no consensus on the definition of “broad host range.” As phages are increasingly being used in the development of methods for the detection and biocontrol of human pathogens, it is important to address the limitations associated with the host range. For instance, unanticipated host range breadth may result in the detection of nonpathogenic targets, thereby increasing the false-positive rate. Moreover, a broad host range is generally favored in biocontrol applications despite the risk of undesirable ancillary effects against nontarget species. Here, we discuss the research progress, applications, and implications of broad host range phages with a focus on tailed broad host range phages infecting human pathogens of concern in the Agri-Food sector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Fong
- Summerland Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Summerland, Canada
- Address correspondence to: Karen Fong, PhD, Summerland Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Postal Box 5000, Summerland BC V0H1Z0, Canada
| | - Catherine W.Y. Wong
- Food, Nutrition and Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Siyun Wang
- Food, Nutrition and Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Pascal Delaquis
- Summerland Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Summerland, Canada
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M. Iyer L, Anantharaman V, Krishnan A, Burroughs AM, Aravind L. Jumbo Phages: A Comparative Genomic Overview of Core Functions and Adaptions for Biological Conflicts. Viruses 2021; 13:v13010063. [PMID: 33466489 PMCID: PMC7824862 DOI: 10.3390/v13010063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 12/31/2020] [Accepted: 12/31/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Jumbo phages have attracted much attention by virtue of their extraordinary genome size and unusual aspects of biology. By performing a comparative genomics analysis of 224 jumbo phages, we suggest an objective inclusion criterion based on genome size distributions and present a synthetic overview of their manifold adaptations across major biological systems. By means of clustering and principal component analysis of the phyletic patterns of conserved genes, all known jumbo phages can be classified into three higher-order groups, which include both myoviral and siphoviral morphologies indicating multiple independent origins from smaller predecessors. Our study uncovers several under-appreciated or unreported aspects of the DNA replication, recombination, transcription and virion maturation systems. Leveraging sensitive sequence analysis methods, we identify novel protein-modifying enzymes that might help hijack the host-machinery. Focusing on host–virus conflicts, we detect strategies used to counter different wings of the bacterial immune system, such as cyclic nucleotide- and NAD+-dependent effector-activation, and prevention of superinfection during pseudolysogeny. We reconstruct the RNA-repair systems of jumbo phages that counter the consequences of RNA-targeting host effectors. These findings also suggest that several jumbo phage proteins provide a snapshot of the systems found in ancient replicons preceding the last universal ancestor of cellular life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lakshminarayan M. Iyer
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA; (L.M.I.); (V.A.); (A.M.B.)
| | - Vivek Anantharaman
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA; (L.M.I.); (V.A.); (A.M.B.)
| | - Arunkumar Krishnan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Berhampur, Odisha 760010, India;
| | - A. Maxwell Burroughs
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA; (L.M.I.); (V.A.); (A.M.B.)
| | - L. Aravind
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA; (L.M.I.); (V.A.); (A.M.B.)
- Correspondence:
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Kim SG, Lee SB, Giri SS, Kim HJ, Kim SW, Kwon J, Park J, Roh E, Park SC. Characterization of Novel Erwinia amylovora Jumbo Bacteriophages from Eneladusvirus Genus. Viruses 2020; 12:E1373. [PMID: 33266226 PMCID: PMC7760394 DOI: 10.3390/v12121373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Revised: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Jumbo phages, which have a genome size of more than 200 kb, have recently been reported for the first time. However, limited information is available regarding their characteristics because few jumbo phages have been isolated. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to isolate and characterize other jumbo phages. We performed comparative genomic analysis of three Erwinia phages (pEa_SNUABM_12, pEa_SNUABM_47, and pEa_SNUABM_50), each of which had a genome size of approximately 360 kb (32.5% GC content). These phages were predicted to harbor 546, 540, and 540 open reading frames with 32, 34, and 35 tRNAs, respectively. Almost all of the genes in these phages could not be functionally annotated but showed high sequence similarity with genes encoded in Serratia phage BF, a member of Eneladusvirus. The detailed comparative and phylogenetic analyses presented in this study contribute to our understanding of the diversity and evolution of Erwinia phage and the genus Eneladusvirus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang Guen Kim
- Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea; (S.G.K.); (S.B.L.); (S.S.G.); (H.J.K.); (S.W.K.); (J.K.)
| | - Sung Bin Lee
- Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea; (S.G.K.); (S.B.L.); (S.S.G.); (H.J.K.); (S.W.K.); (J.K.)
| | - Sib Sankar Giri
- Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea; (S.G.K.); (S.B.L.); (S.S.G.); (H.J.K.); (S.W.K.); (J.K.)
| | - Hyoun Joong Kim
- Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea; (S.G.K.); (S.B.L.); (S.S.G.); (H.J.K.); (S.W.K.); (J.K.)
| | - Sang Wha Kim
- Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea; (S.G.K.); (S.B.L.); (S.S.G.); (H.J.K.); (S.W.K.); (J.K.)
| | - Jun Kwon
- Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea; (S.G.K.); (S.B.L.); (S.S.G.); (H.J.K.); (S.W.K.); (J.K.)
| | - Jungkum Park
- Crop Protection Division, National Institute of Agriculture Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Wanju 55365, Korea; (J.P.); (E.R.)
| | - Eunjung Roh
- Crop Protection Division, National Institute of Agriculture Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Wanju 55365, Korea; (J.P.); (E.R.)
| | - Se Chang Park
- Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea; (S.G.K.); (S.B.L.); (S.S.G.); (H.J.K.); (S.W.K.); (J.K.)
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12
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Multisubunit RNA Polymerases of Jumbo Bacteriophages. Viruses 2020; 12:v12101064. [PMID: 32977622 PMCID: PMC7598289 DOI: 10.3390/v12101064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2020] [Revised: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Prokaryotic viruses with DNA genome longer than 200 kb are collectively referred to as “jumbo phages”. Some representatives of this phylogenetically diverse group encode two DNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RNAPs)—a virion RNAP and a non-virion RNAP. In contrast to most other phage-encoded RNAPs, the jumbo phage RNAPs are multisubunit enzymes related to RNAPs of cellular organisms. Unlike all previously characterized multisubunit enzymes, jumbo phage RNAPs lack the universally conserved alpha subunits required for enzyme assembly. The mechanism of promoter recognition is also different from those used by cellular enzymes. For example, the AR9 phage non-virion RNAP requires uracils in its promoter and is able to initiate promoter-specific transcription from single-stranded DNA. Jumbo phages encoding multisubunit RNAPs likely have a common ancestor allowing making them a separate subgroup within the very diverse group of jumbo phages. In this review, we describe transcriptional strategies used by RNAP-encoding jumbo phages and describe the properties of characterized jumbo phage RNAPs.
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13
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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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14
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Imam M, Alrashid B, Patel F, Dowah ASA, Brown N, Millard A, Clokie MRJ, Galyov EE. vB_PaeM_MIJ3, a Novel Jumbo Phage Infecting Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Possesses Unusual Genomic Features. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:2772. [PMID: 31849908 PMCID: PMC6892783 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Phages are the most abundant biological entity on Earth. There are many variants in phage virion sizes, morphology, and genome sizes. Large virion sized phages, with genome sizes greater than 200 kbp have been identified and termed as Jumbo phages. These phages exhibit certain characteristics that have not been reported in phages with smaller genomes. In this work, a jumbo phage named MIJ3 (vB_PaeM_MIJ3) that infects Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 was isolated from an equine livery yard in Leicestershire, United Kingdom. The genome and biological characteristics of this phage have been investigated. MIJ3 is a Myovirus with multiple long tail fibers. Assessment of the host range of MIJ3 revealed that it has the ability to infect many clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa. Bioinformatics analysis of the phage genome indicated that MIJ3 is closely related to the Pseudomonas phage, PA5oct. MIJ3 possesses several unusual features that are either rarely present in other phages or have not yet been reported. In particular, MIJ3 encodes a FtsH-like protein, and a putative lysidine synthase, TilS. These two proteins have not been reported in phages. MIJ3 also possesses a split DNA polymerase B with a novel intein. Of particular interest, unlike other jumbo phages infecting Pseudomonas spp., MIJ3 lacks the genetic elements required for the formation of the phage nucleus, which was believed to be conserved across jumbo Pseudomonas phages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Imam
- Department of Respiratory Sciences, College of Life Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom.,Laboratory Department, University Medical Center, Umm Al-Qura University, Mecca, Saudi Arabia
| | - Bandar Alrashid
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, College of Life Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom.,King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Faizal Patel
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, College of Life Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Ahmed S A Dowah
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, College of Life Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Nathan Brown
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, College of Life Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Millard
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, College of Life Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Martha R J Clokie
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, College of Life Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Edouard E Galyov
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, College of Life Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
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15
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Sharma R, Pielstick BA, Bell KA, Nieman TB, Stubbs OA, Yeates EL, Baltrus DA, Grose JH. A Novel, Highly Related Jumbo Family of Bacteriophages That Were Isolated Against Erwinia. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:1533. [PMID: 31428059 PMCID: PMC6690015 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2019] [Accepted: 06/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Erwinia amylovora is a plant pathogen from the Erwiniaceae family and a causative agent of the devastating agricultural disease fire blight. Here we characterize eight lytic bacteriophages of E. amylovora that we isolated from the Wasatch front (Utah, United States) that are highly similar to vB_EamM_Ea35-70 which was isolated in Ontario, Canada. With the genome size ranging from 271 to 275 kb, this is a novel jumbo family of bacteriophages. These jumbo bacteriophages were further characterized through genomic and proteomic comparison, mass spectrometry, host range and burst size. Their proteomes are highly unstudied, with over 200 putative proteins with no known homologs. The production of 27 of these putative proteins was confirmed by mass spectrometry analysis. These bacteriophages appear to be most similar to bacteriophages that infect Pseudomonas and Ralstonia rather than Enterobacteriales bacteria by protein similarity, however, we were only able to detect infection of Erwinia and the closely related strains of Pantoea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruchira Sharma
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Brittany A Pielstick
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Kimberly A Bell
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Tanner B Nieman
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Olivia A Stubbs
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Edward L Yeates
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - David A Baltrus
- School of Plant Sciences, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Julianne H Grose
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
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16
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Thompson DW, Casjens SR, Sharma R, Grose JH. Genomic comparison of 60 completely sequenced bacteriophages that infect Erwinia and/or Pantoea bacteria. Virology 2019; 535:59-73. [PMID: 31276862 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2019.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2019] [Revised: 06/05/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Erwinia and Pantoea are closely related bacterial plant pathogens in the Gram negative Enterobacteriales order. Sixty tailed bacteriophages capable of infecting these pathogens have been completely sequenced by investigators around the world and are in the current databases, 30 of which were sequenced by our lab. These 60 were compared to 991 other Enterobacteriales bacteriophage genomes and found to be, on average, just over twice the overall average length. These Erwinia and Pantoea phages comprise 20 clusters based on nucleotide and protein sequences. Five clusters contain only phages that infect the Erwinia and Pantoea genera, the other 15 clusters are closely related to bacteriophages that infect other Enterobacteriales; however, within these clusters the Erwinia and Pantoea phages tend to be distinct, suggesting ecological niche may play a diversification role. The failure of many of their encoded proteins to have predicted functions highlights the need for further study of these phages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel W Thompson
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Utah, USA
| | - Sherwood R Casjens
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA; School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - Ruchira Sharma
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Utah, USA
| | - Julianne H Grose
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Utah, USA.
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17
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Genomic characterization of three novel Basilisk-like phages infecting Bacillus anthracis. BMC Genomics 2018; 19:685. [PMID: 30227847 PMCID: PMC6145125 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-018-5056-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2018] [Accepted: 09/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background In the present study, we sequenced the complete genomes of three novel bacteriophages v_B-Bak1, v_B-Bak6, v_B-Bak10 previously isolated from historical anthrax burial sites in the South Caucasus country of Georgia. We report here major trends in the molecular evolution of these phages, which we designate as “Basilisk-Like-Phages” (BLPs), and illustrate patterns in their evolution, genomic plasticity and core genome architecture. Results Comparative whole genome sequence analysis revealed a close evolutionary relationship between our phages and two unclassified Bacillus cereus group phages, phage Basilisk, a broad host range phage (Grose JH et al., J Vir. 2014;88(20):11846-11860) and phage PBC4, a highly host-restricted phage and close relative of Basilisk (Na H. et al. FEMS Microbiol. letters. 2016;363(12)). Genome comparisons of phages v_B-Bak1, v_B-Bak6, and v_B-Bak10 revealed significant similarity in sequence, gene content, and synteny with both Basilisk and PBC4. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed the three phages belong to the Siphoviridae family. In contrast to the broad host range of phage Basilisk and the single-strain specificity of PBC4, our three phages displayed host specificity for Bacillus anthracis. Bacillus species including Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus anthracoides, and Bacillus megaterium were refractory to infection. Conclusions Data reported here provide further insight into the shared genomic architecture, host range specificity, and molecular evolution of these rare B. cereus group phages. To date, the three phages represent the only known close relatives of the Basilisk and PBC4 phages and their shared genetic attributes and unique host specificity for B. anthracis provides additional insight into candidate host range determinants. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-018-5056-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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18
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Day A, Ahn J, Salmond GPC. Jumbo Bacteriophages Are Represented Within an Increasing Diversity of Environmental Viruses Infecting the Emerging Phytopathogen, Dickeya solani. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:2169. [PMID: 30258425 PMCID: PMC6143709 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.02169] [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: 06/25/2018] [Accepted: 08/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Dickeya species are economically important phytopathogens widespread in mainland Europe that can reduce crop yields by 25%. There are no effective environmentally-acceptable chemical systems available for diseases caused by Dickeya. Bacteriophages have been suggested for use in biocontrol of these pathogens in the field, and limited field trials have been conducted. To date the majority of bacteriophages capable of infecting Dickeya solani, one of the more aggressive species, are from the same family, the Ackermannviridae, many representatives of which have been shown to be unsuitable for use in the field due to their capacity for generalized transduction. Members of this family are also only capable of forming individual plaques on D. solani. Here we describe novel bacteriophages from environmental sources isolated on D. solani, including members of two other viral families; Myoviridae and Podoviridae, most of which are capable of forming plaques on multiple Dickeya species. Full genomic sequencing revealed that the Myoviridae family members form two novel clusters of jumbo bacteriophages with genomes over 250 kbp, with one cluster containing phages of another phytopathogen Erwinia amylovora. Transduction experiments showed that the majority of the new environmental bacteriophages are also capable of facilitating efficient horizontal gene transfer, however the single Podoviridae family member is not. This particular phage therefore has potential for use as a biocontrol agent against multiple species of Dickeya.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Day
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Jiyoon Ahn
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - George P C Salmond
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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19
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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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20
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Buttimer C, Lucid A, Neve H, Franz CMAP, O'Mahony J, Turner D, Lavigne R, Coffey A. Pectobacterium atrosepticum Phage vB_PatP_CB5: A Member of the Proposed Genus ' Phimunavirus'. Viruses 2018; 10:E394. [PMID: 30050020 PMCID: PMC6115819 DOI: 10.3390/v10080394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2018] [Revised: 07/23/2018] [Accepted: 07/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Pectobacterium atrosepticum is a phytopathogen of economic importance as it is the causative agent of potato blackleg and soft rot. Here we describe the Pectobacterium phage vB_PatP_CB5 (abbreviated as CB5), which specifically infects the bacterium. The bacteriophage is characterized in detail and TEM micrographs indicate that it belongs to the Podoviridae family. CB5 shares significant pairwise nucleotide identity (≥80%) with P. atrosepticum phages φM1, Peat1, and PP90 and also shares common genome organization. Phylograms constructed using conserved proteins and whole-genome comparison-based amino acid sequences show that these phages form a distinct clade within the Autographivirinae. They also possess conserved RNA polymerase recognition and specificity loop sequences. Their lysis cassette resembles that of KP34virus, containing in sequential order a U-spanin, a holin, and a signal⁻arrest⁻release (SAR) endolysin. However, they share low pairwise nucleotide identity with the type phage of the KP34virus genus, Klebsiella phage KP34. In addition, phage KP34 does not possess several conserved proteins associated with these P. atrosepticum phages. As such, we propose the allocation of phages CB5, Peat1, φM1, and PP90 to a separate new genus designated Phimunavirus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin Buttimer
- Department of Biological Sciences, Cork Institute of Technology, T12 P928 Cork, Ireland.
| | - Alan Lucid
- Department of Biological Sciences, Cork Institute of Technology, T12 P928 Cork, Ireland.
| | - Horst Neve
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Max Rubner-Institut, 24103 Kiel, Germany.
| | - Charles M A P Franz
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Max Rubner-Institut, 24103 Kiel, Germany.
| | - Jim O'Mahony
- Department of Biological Sciences, Cork Institute of Technology, T12 P928 Cork, Ireland.
| | - Dann Turner
- Department of Applied Sciences, University of the West of England, Bristol, Frenchay Campus, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK.
| | - Rob Lavigne
- Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Aidan Coffey
- Department of Biological Sciences, Cork Institute of Technology, T12 P928 Cork, Ireland.
- APC Microbiome Institute, University College, T12 YT20 Cork, Ireland.
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21
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Buttimer C, Born Y, Lucid A, Loessner MJ, Fieseler L, Coffey A. Erwinia amylovora phage vB_EamM_Y3 represents another lineage of hairy Myoviridae. Res Microbiol 2018; 169:505-514. [PMID: 29777834 DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2018.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2017] [Accepted: 04/23/2018] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
To date, a small number of jumbo myoviruses have been reported to possess atypical whisker-like structures along the surface of their contractile tails. Erwinia amylovora phage vB_EamM_Y3 is another example. It possesses a genome of 261,365 kbp with 333 predicted ORFs. Using a combination of BLASTP, Interproscan and HHpred, about 21% of its putative proteins could be assigned functions involved in nucleotide metabolism, DNA replication, virion structure and cell wall degradation. The phage was found to have a signal-arrest-release (SAR) endolysin (Y3_301) possessing a soluble lytic transglycosylase domain. Like other SAR endolysins, inducible expression of Y3_301 caused Escherichia coli lysis, which is dependent on the presence of an N-terminal signal sequence. Phylogenetic analysis showed that its closest relatives are other jumbo phages including Pseudomonas aeruginosa phage PaBG and P. putida phage Lu11, sharing 105 and 87 homologous proteins respectively. Like these phages, Y3 also shares a distant relationship to Ralstonia solanacearum phage ΦRSL1 (sharing 55 homologous proteins). As these phages are unrelated to the Rak2-like group of hairy phages, Y3 along with Lu11 represent a second lineage of hairy myoviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin Buttimer
- Department of Biological Sciences, Cork Institute of Technology, Cork, Ireland.
| | - Yannick Born
- Institute of Food, Nutrition, and Health, ETH Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland; Agroscope, Research Division Plant Protection, Wädenswil, Switzerland.
| | - Alan Lucid
- Department of Biological Sciences, Cork Institute of Technology, Cork, Ireland
| | - Martin J Loessner
- Institute of Food, Nutrition, and Health, ETH Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Lars Fieseler
- Institute of Food, Nutrition, and Health, ETH Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Aidan Coffey
- Department of Biological Sciences, Cork Institute of Technology, Cork, Ireland; APC Microbiome Institute, University College, Cork, Ireland.
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22
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Kropinski AM. Bacteriophage research - What we have learnt and what still needs to be addressed. Res Microbiol 2018; 169:481-487. [PMID: 29777837 DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2018.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2018] [Revised: 04/28/2018] [Accepted: 05/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Research on bacteriophages has significantly enhanced our understanding of molecular biology, the genomes of prokaryotic cells, and viral ecology. Phages and lysins offer a viable alternative to the declining utility of antibiotics in this post-antibiotic era. They also provide ideal teaching tools for genomics and bioinformatics. This article touches on the first 100 years of phage research with the author commenting on what he thinks are the highlights, and what needs to be addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M Kropinski
- Departments of Food Science and Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 1W1, Canada.
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23
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Ajuebor J, Buttimer C, Arroyo-Moreno S, Chanishvili N, Gabriel EM, O'Mahony J, McAuliffe O, Neve H, Franz C, Coffey A. Comparison of Staphylococcus Phage K with Close Phage Relatives Commonly Employed in Phage Therapeutics. Antibiotics (Basel) 2018; 7:E37. [PMID: 29693603 PMCID: PMC6022877 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics7020037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2018] [Revised: 04/12/2018] [Accepted: 04/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The increase in antibiotic resistance in pathogenic bacteria is a public health danger requiring alternative treatment options, and this has led to renewed interest in phage therapy. In this respect, we describe the distinct host ranges of Staphylococcus phage K, and two other K-like phages against 23 isolates, including 21 methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) representative sequence types representing the Irish National MRSA Reference Laboratory collection. The two K-like phages were isolated from the Fersisi therapeutic phage mix from the Tbilisi Eliava Institute, and were designated B1 (vB_SauM_B1) and JA1 (vB_SauM_JA1). The sequence relatedness of B1 and JA1 to phage K was observed to be 95% and 94% respectively. In terms of host range on the 23 Staphylococcus isolates, B1 and JA1 infected 73.9% and 78.2% respectively, whereas K infected only 43.5%. Eleven open reading frames (ORFs) present in both phages B1 and JA1 but absent in phage K were identified by comparative genomic analysis. These ORFs were also found to be present in the genomes of phages (Team 1, vB_SauM-fRuSau02, Sb_1 and ISP) that are components of several commercial phage mixtures with reported wide host ranges. This is the first comparative study of therapeutic staphylococcal phages within the recently described genus Kayvirus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jude Ajuebor
- Department of Biological Sciences, Cork Institute of Technology, Bishopstown, Cork T12 P928, UK.
| | - Colin Buttimer
- Department of Biological Sciences, Cork Institute of Technology, Bishopstown, Cork T12 P928, UK.
| | - Sara Arroyo-Moreno
- Department of Biological Sciences, Cork Institute of Technology, Bishopstown, Cork T12 P928, UK.
| | - Nina Chanishvili
- Eliava Institute of Bacteriophages, Microbiology and Virology, Tbilisi 0160, Georgia.
| | - Emma M Gabriel
- Department of Biological Sciences, Cork Institute of Technology, Bishopstown, Cork T12 P928, UK.
| | - Jim O'Mahony
- Department of Biological Sciences, Cork Institute of Technology, Bishopstown, Cork T12 P928, UK.
| | - Olivia McAuliffe
- Teagasc, Moorepark Food Research Centre, Fermoy, Cork P61 C996, UK.
| | - Horst Neve
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Max Rubner-Institut, DE-24103 Kiel, Germany.
| | - Charles Franz
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Max Rubner-Institut, DE-24103 Kiel, Germany.
| | - Aidan Coffey
- Department of Biological Sciences, Cork Institute of Technology, Bishopstown, Cork T12 P928, UK.
- Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, University College, Cork T12 YT20, UK.
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24
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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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Born Y, Fieseler L, Thöny V, Leimer N, Duffy B, Loessner MJ. Engineering of Bacteriophages Y2:: dpoL1-C and Y2:: luxAB for Efficient Control and Rapid Detection of the Fire Blight Pathogen, Erwinia amylovora. Appl Environ Microbiol 2017; 83:e00341-17. [PMID: 28389547 PMCID: PMC5452800 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00341-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2017] [Accepted: 04/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Erwinia amylovora is the causative agent of fire blight, a devastating plant disease affecting members of the Rosaceae Alternatives to antibiotics for control of fire blight symptoms and outbreaks are highly desirable, due to increasing drug resistance and tight regulatory restrictions. Moreover, the available diagnostic methods either lack sensitivity, lack speed, or are unable to discriminate between live and dead bacteria. Owing to their extreme biological specificity, bacteriophages are promising alternatives for both aims. In this study, the virulent broad-host-range E. amylovora virus Y2 was engineered to enhance its killing activity and for use as a luciferase reporter phage, respectively. Toward these aims, a depolymerase gene of E. amylovora virus L1 (dpoL1-C) or a bacterial luxAB fusion was introduced into the genome of Y2 by homologous recombination. The genes were placed downstream of the major capsid protein orf68, under the control of the native promoter. The modifications did not affect viability of infectivity of the recombinant viruses. Phage Y2::dpoL1-C demonstrated synergistic activity between the depolymerase degrading the exopolysaccharide capsule and phage infection, which greatly enhanced bacterial killing. It also significantly reduced the ability of E. amylovora to colonize the surface of detached flowers. The reporter phage Y2::luxAB transduced bacterial luciferase into host cells and induced synthesis of large amounts of a LuxAB luciferase fusion. After the addition of aldehyde substrate, bioluminescence could be readily monitored, and this enabled rapid and specific detection of low numbers of viable bacteria, without enrichment, both in vitro and in plant material.IMPORTANCE Fire blight, caused by Erwinia amylovora, is the major threat to global pome fruit production, with high economic losses every year. Bacteriophages represent promising alternatives to not only control the disease, but also for rapid diagnostics. To enhance biocontrol efficacy, we combined the desired properties of two phages, Y2 (broad host range) and L1 (depolymerase for capsule degradation) in a single recombinant phage. This phage showed enhanced biocontrol and could reduce E. amylovora on flowers. Phage Y2 was also genetically engineered into a luciferase reporter phage, which transduces bacterial bioluminescence into infected cells and allows detection of low numbers of viable target bacteria. The combination of speed, sensitivity, and specificity is superior to previously used diagnostic methods. In conclusion, genetic engineering could improve the properties of phage Y2 toward better killing efficacy and sensitive detection of E. amylovora cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yannick Born
- Institute of Food, Nutrition, and Health, ETH Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Agroscope, Research Division Plant Protection, Wädenswil, Switzerland
| | - Lars Fieseler
- Institute of Food, Nutrition, and Health, ETH Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Valentin Thöny
- Institute of Food, Nutrition, and Health, ETH Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Nadja Leimer
- Institute of Food, Nutrition, and Health, ETH Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Brion Duffy
- Agroscope, Research Division Plant Protection, Wädenswil, Switzerland
| | - Martin J Loessner
- Institute of Food, Nutrition, and Health, ETH Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
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26
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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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