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Ranta K, Skurnik M, Kiljunen S. fENko-Kae01 is a flagellum-specific jumbo phage infecting Klebsiella aerogenes. BMC Microbiol 2024; 24:234. [PMID: 38951769 PMCID: PMC11218385 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-024-03387-1] [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: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Klebsiella aerogenes is an opportunistic pathogen that causes a wide variety of infections. Due to the rising problem of antibiotic resistance, novel antibiotics and strategies to combat bacterial infections are needed. Host-specific bacteriophages are natural enemies of bacteria and can be used in phage therapy as an alternative form of treatment against bacterial infections. Jumbo phages are defined as phages with genomes larger than 200 kb. Relatively few studies have been done on jumbo phages compared to smaller phages. RESULTS A novel phage, fENko-Kae01, was isolated from a commercial phage cocktail. Genomic analysis revealed that fENko-Kae01 is a lytic jumbo phage with a 360 kb genome encoding 578 predicted genes. No highly similar phage genomes were identified and fENko-Kae01 may be a completely new genus representative. No known genes associated with lysogenic life cycle, bacterial virulence, or antibiotic resistance were identified. The phage had myovirus morphology and a narrow host range. Phage resistant bacterial mutants emerged under phage selection. Whole genome sequencing revealed that the biogenesis of the flagellum was affected in four mutants and the lack of functional flagellum was confirmed in motility assays. Furthermore, phage fENKo-Kae01 failed to adsorb on the non-motile mutants indicating that the bacterial flagellum is the phage-binding receptor. CONCLUSIONS fENko-Kae01 is a novel jumbo bacteriophage that is considered safe for phage therapy. fENko-Kae01 uses the flagellum as the phage-binding receptor and may represent a completely novel genus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kira Ranta
- HUS Diagnostic Center, Clinical Microbiology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- Human Microbiome Research Program, Research Program Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mikael Skurnik
- Human Microbiome Research Program, Research Program Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Saija Kiljunen
- Human Microbiome Research Program, Research Program Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
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Muscatt G, Hilton S, Raguideau S, Teakle G, Lidbury IDEA, Wellington EMH, Quince C, Millard A, Bending GD, Jameson E. Crop management shapes the diversity and activity of DNA and RNA viruses in the rhizosphere. MICROBIOME 2022; 10:181. [PMID: 36280853 PMCID: PMC9590211 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-022-01371-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The rhizosphere is a hotspot for microbial activity and contributes to ecosystem services including plant health and biogeochemical cycling. The activity of microbial viruses, and their influence on plant-microbe interactions in the rhizosphere, remains undetermined. Given the impact of viruses on the ecology and evolution of their host communities, determining how soil viruses influence microbiome dynamics is crucial to build a holistic understanding of rhizosphere functions. RESULTS Here, we aimed to investigate the influence of crop management on the composition and activity of bulk soil, rhizosphere soil, and root viral communities. We combined viromics, metagenomics, and metatranscriptomics on soil samples collected from a 3-year crop rotation field trial of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.). By recovering 1059 dsDNA viral populations and 16,541 ssRNA bacteriophage populations, we expanded the number of underexplored Leviviricetes genomes by > 5 times. Through detection of viral activity in metatranscriptomes, we uncovered evidence of "Kill-the-Winner" dynamics, implicating soil bacteriophages in driving bacterial community succession. Moreover, we found the activity of viruses increased with proximity to crop roots, and identified that soil viruses may influence plant-microbe interactions through the reprogramming of bacterial host metabolism. We have provided the first evidence of crop rotation-driven impacts on soil microbial communities extending to viruses. To this aim, we present the novel principal of "viral priming," which describes how the consecutive growth of the same crop species primes viral activity in the rhizosphere through local adaptation. CONCLUSIONS Overall, we reveal unprecedented spatial and temporal diversity in viral community composition and activity across root, rhizosphere soil, and bulk soil compartments. Our work demonstrates that the roles of soil viruses need greater consideration to exploit the rhizosphere microbiome for food security, food safety, and environmental sustainability. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Muscatt
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Sally Hilton
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Sebastien Raguideau
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
- Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
| | - Graham Teakle
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Ian D E A Lidbury
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
- Plants, Photosynthesis and Soil, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | | | - Christopher Quince
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
- Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
| | - Andrew Millard
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
| | - Gary D Bending
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Eleanor Jameson
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.
- School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, UK.
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Gomez-Raya-Vilanova MV, Leskinen K, Bhattacharjee A, Virta P, Rosenqvist P, Smith JLR, Bayfield O, Homberger C, Kerrinnes T, Vogel J, Pajunen M, Skurnik M. The DNA polymerase of bacteriophage YerA41 replicates its T-modified DNA in a primer-independent manner. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:3985-3997. [PMID: 35357498 PMCID: PMC9023294 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Yersinia phage YerA41 is morphologically similar to jumbo bacteriophages. The isolated genomic material of YerA41 could not be digested by restriction enzymes, and used as a template by conventional DNA polymerases. Nucleoside analysis of the YerA41 genomic material, carried out to find out whether this was due to modified nucleotides, revealed the presence of a ca 1 kDa substitution of thymidine with apparent oligosaccharide character. We identified and purified the phage DNA polymerase (DNAP) that could replicate the YerA41 genomic DNA even without added primers. Cryo-electron microscopy (EM) was used to characterize structural details of the phage particle. The storage capacity of the 131 nm diameter head was calculated to accommodate a significantly longer genome than that of the 145 577 bp genomic DNA of YerA41 determined here. Indeed, cryo-EM revealed, in contrast to the 25 Å in other phages, spacings of 33-36 Å between shells of the genomic material inside YerA41 heads suggesting that the heavily substituted thymidine increases significantly the spacing of the DNA packaged inside the capsid. In conclusion, YerA41 appears to be an unconventional phage that packages thymidine-modified genomic DNA into its capsids along with its own DNAP that has the ability to replicate the genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel V Gomez-Raya-Vilanova
- Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Medicum, Human Microbiome Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00014 UH, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Katarzyna Leskinen
- Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Medicum, Human Microbiome Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00014 UH, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Arnab Bhattacharjee
- Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Medicum, Human Microbiome Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00014 UH, Helsinki, Finland
- Drug Discovery, Herantis Pharma Ltd. Bertel Jungin Aukio 1, 02600 Espoo, Finland
| | - Pasi Virta
- Department of Chemistry, 20014 University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Petja Rosenqvist
- Department of Chemistry, 20014 University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Jake L R Smith
- York Structural Biology Laboratory, University of York, YO10 5DD York, United Kingdom
| | - Oliver W Bayfield
- York Structural Biology Laboratory, University of York, YO10 5DD York, United Kingdom
| | - Christina Homberger
- Institute of Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB), University of Würzburg, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Tobias Kerrinnes
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), D-97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jörg Vogel
- Institute of Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB), University of Würzburg, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), D-97080 Würzburg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Würzburg, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Maria I Pajunen
- Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Medicum, Human Microbiome Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00014 UH, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mikael Skurnik
- Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Medicum, Human Microbiome Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00014 UH, Helsinki, Finland
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, HUSLAB, Helsinki University Hospital, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
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Temporal Transcriptional Responses of a Vibrio alginolyticus Strain to
Podoviridae
Phage HH109 Revealed by RNA-Seq. mSystems 2022; 7:e0010622. [PMID: 35400200 PMCID: PMC9040624 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00106-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Vibrio alginolyticus
is a common opportunistic pathogen that causes mass mortality in cultured marine animals. Phage HH109 lyses pathogenic
V. alginolyticus
strain E110 with high efficiency and thus serves as a useful model to understand the dynamic interplay of a phage and its host.
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Shen A, Millard A. Phage Genome Annotation: Where to Begin and End. PHAGE (NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y.) 2021; 2:183-193. [PMID: 36159890 PMCID: PMC9041514 DOI: 10.1089/phage.2021.0015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
With the renewed interest in phage research, coupled with the rising accessibility to affordable sequencing, ever increasing numbers of phage genomes are being sequenced. Therefore, there is an increased need to assemble and annotate phage genomes. There is a plethora of tools and platforms that allow phage genomes to be assembled and annotated. The choice of tools can often be bewildering for those new to phage genome assembly. Here we provide an overview of the assembly and annotation process from obtaining raw reads to genome submission, with worked examples, providing those new to genome assembly and annotation with a guided pathway to genome submission. We focus on the use of open access tools that can be incorporated into workflows to allow easy repetition of steps, highlighting multiple tools that can be used and common pitfalls that may occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasiya Shen
- Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Andrew Millard
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester, United Kingdom
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Ramos-Vivas J, Superio J, Galindo-Villegas J, Acosta F. Phage Therapy as a Focused Management Strategy in Aquaculture. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:10436. [PMID: 34638776 PMCID: PMC8508683 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic bacteriophages, commonly called as phages, are a promising potential alternative to antibiotics in the management of bacterial infections of a wide range of organisms including cultured fish. Their natural immunogenicity often induces the modulation of a variated collection of immune responses within several types of immunocytes while promoting specific mechanisms of bacterial clearance. However, to achieve standardized treatments at the practical level and avoid possible side effects in cultivated fish, several improvements in the understanding of their biology and the associated genomes are required. Interestingly, a particular feature with therapeutic potential among all phages is the production of lytic enzymes. The use of such enzymes against human and livestock pathogens has already provided in vitro and in vivo promissory results. So far, the best-understood phages utilized to fight against either Gram-negative or Gram-positive bacterial species in fish culture are mainly restricted to the Myoviridae and Podoviridae, and the Siphoviridae, respectively. However, the current functional use of phages against bacterial pathogens of cultured fish is still in its infancy. Based on the available data, in this review, we summarize the current knowledge about phage, identify gaps, and provide insights into the possible bacterial control strategies they might represent for managing aquaculture-related bacterial diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Ramos-Vivas
- Grupo de Investigación en Acuicultura, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35214 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain; (J.R.-V.); (F.A.)
- Research Group on Foods, Nutritional Biochemistry and Health, Universidad Europea del Atlántico, 39011 Santander, Spain
- Department of Project Management, Universidad Internacional Iberoamericana, Campeche 24560, Mexico
| | - Joshua Superio
- Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Nord University, 8049 Bodø, Norway;
| | | | - Félix Acosta
- Grupo de Investigación en Acuicultura, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35214 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain; (J.R.-V.); (F.A.)
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