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Li Y, Huo Y, Liang L, Li D, Zhang Z, Yang H. Bacillus phage phi18-2 is a novel temperate virus with an unintegrated genome present in the cytoplasm of lysogenic cells as a linear phage-plasmid. Arch Virol 2024; 169:81. [PMID: 38519716 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-024-06014-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
Bacillus subtilis is a Gram-positive bacterium that is widely used in fermentation and in the pharmaceutical industry. Phage contamination occasionally occurs in various fermentation processes and causes significant economic loss. Here, we report the isolation and characterization of a temperate B. subtilis phage, termed phi18-2, from spore powder manufactured in a fermentation plant. Transmission electron microscopy showed that phi18-2 has a symmetrical polyhedral head and a long noncontractile tail. Receptor analysis showed that phi18-2 recognizes wall teichoic acid (WTA) for infection. The phage virions have a linear double-stranded DNA genome of 64,467 bp with identical direct repeat sequences of 309 bp at each end of the genome. In lysogenic cells, the phage genome was found to be present in the cytoplasm without integration into the host cell chromosome, and possibly as a linear phage-plasmid with unmodified ends. Our data may provide some insight into the molecular basis of the unique lysogenic cycle of phage phi18-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yutong Li
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology of the Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, 300457, China
| | - Yansheng Huo
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology of the Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, 300457, China
| | - Li Liang
- Shandong Vland Biotech Co., Ltd., Shandong, 251700, China
| | - Donghang Li
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology of the Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, 300457, China
| | - Zhiqiang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology of the Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, 300457, China
| | - Hongjiang Yang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology of the Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, 300457, China.
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Tian R, Zhao R, Guo H, Yan K, Wang C, Lu C, Lv X, Li J, Liu L, Du G, Chen J, Liu Y. Engineered bacterial orthogonal DNA replication system for continuous evolution. Nat Chem Biol 2023; 19:1504-1512. [PMID: 37443393 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-023-01387-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
Continuous evolution can generate biomolecules for synthetic biology and enable evolutionary investigation. The orthogonal DNA replication system (OrthoRep) in yeast can efficiently mutate long DNA fragments in an easy-to-operate manner. However, such a system is lacking in bacteria. Therefore, we developed a bacterial orthogonal DNA replication system (BacORep) for continuous evolution. We achieved this by harnessing the temperate phage GIL16 DNA replication machinery in Bacillus thuringiensis with an engineered error-prone orthogonal DNA polymerase. BacORep introduces all 12 types of nucleotide substitution in 15-kilobase genes on orthogonally replicating linear plasmids with a 6,700-fold higher mutation rate than that of the host genome, the mutation rate of which is unchanged. Here we demonstrate the utility of BacORep-based continuous evolution by generating strong promoters applicable to model bacteria, Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli, and achieving a 7.4-fold methanol assimilation increase in B. thuringiensis. BacORep is a powerful tool for continuous evolution in prokaryotic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rongzhen Tian
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education on Food Synthetic Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Food Synthetic Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Runzhi Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education on Food Synthetic Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Food Synthetic Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Haoyu Guo
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education on Food Synthetic Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Food Synthetic Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Kun Yan
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education on Food Synthetic Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Food Synthetic Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Chenyun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education on Food Synthetic Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Food Synthetic Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Cheng Lu
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Xueqin Lv
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education on Food Synthetic Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Food Synthetic Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Jianghua Li
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Long Liu
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Guocheng Du
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Jian Chen
- Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education on Food Synthetic Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Food Synthetic Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Yanfeng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China.
- Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China.
- Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education on Food Synthetic Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China.
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Food Synthetic Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China.
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Kazantseva OA, Skorynina AV, Piligrimova EG, Ryabova NA, Shadrin AM. A Genomic Analysis of the Bacillus Bacteriophage Kirovirus kirovense Kirov and Its Ability to Preserve Milk. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12584. [PMID: 37628765 PMCID: PMC10454425 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241612584] [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: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophages are widely recognized as alternatives to traditional antibiotics commonly used in the treatment of bacterial infection diseases and in the food industry, as phages offer a potential solution in combating multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens. In this study, we describe a novel bacteriophage, Kirovirus kirovense Kirov, which infects members of the Bacillus cereus group. Kirovirus kirovense Kirov is a broad-host-range phage belonging to the Caudoviricetes class. Its chromosome is a linear 165,667 bp double-stranded DNA molecule that contains two short, direct terminal repeats, each 284 bp long. According to bioinformatics predictions, the genomic DNA contains 275 protein-coding genes and 5 tRNA genes. A comparative genomic analysis suggests that Kirovirus kirovense Kirov is a novel species within the Kirovirus genus, belonging to the Andregratiavirinae subfamily. Kirovirus kirovense Kirov demonstrates the ability to preserve and decontaminate B. cereus from cow milk when present in milk at a concentration of 104 PFU/mL. After 4 h of incubation with the phage, the bacterial titer drops from 105 to less than 102 CFU/mL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olesya A. Kazantseva
- Laboratory of Bacteriophage Biology, G.K. Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Federal Research Center, Prospect Nauki, 5, 142290 Pushchino, Russia; (A.V.S.); (E.G.P.); (N.A.R.)
| | - Anna V. Skorynina
- Laboratory of Bacteriophage Biology, G.K. Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Federal Research Center, Prospect Nauki, 5, 142290 Pushchino, Russia; (A.V.S.); (E.G.P.); (N.A.R.)
| | - Emma G. Piligrimova
- Laboratory of Bacteriophage Biology, G.K. Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Federal Research Center, Prospect Nauki, 5, 142290 Pushchino, Russia; (A.V.S.); (E.G.P.); (N.A.R.)
| | - Natalya A. Ryabova
- Laboratory of Bacteriophage Biology, G.K. Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Federal Research Center, Prospect Nauki, 5, 142290 Pushchino, Russia; (A.V.S.); (E.G.P.); (N.A.R.)
- Institute of Protein Research RAS, Institutskaya St., 4, 142290 Pushchino, Russia
| | - Andrey M. Shadrin
- Laboratory of Bacteriophage Biology, G.K. Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Federal Research Center, Prospect Nauki, 5, 142290 Pushchino, Russia; (A.V.S.); (E.G.P.); (N.A.R.)
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Diao K, Li G, Sun X, Yi H, Zhang S, Xiao W. Genomic Characterization of a Halovirus Representing a Novel Siphoviral Cluster. Viruses 2023; 15:1392. [PMID: 37376691 DOI: 10.3390/v15061392] [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: 05/06/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Salt mines are a special type of hypersaline environment. Current research mainly focuses on prokaryotes, and the understanding of viruses in salt mines remains limited. Understanding viruses in hypersaline environments is of great significance for revealing the formation and maintenance of microbial communities, energy flow and element cycling, and host ecological functions. A phage infecting Halomonas titanicae was isolated from Yipinglang Salt Mine in China, designated Halomonas titanicae phage vB_HtiS_YPHTV-1 (YPHTV-1). Transmission electron microscopy revealed that YPHTV-1 had an icosahedral head with a diameter of 49.12 ± 0.15 nm (n = 5) and a long noncontractile tail with a length of 141.7 ± 0.58 nm (n = 5), indicating that it was a siphovirus. The one-step growth curve showed that the burst size of YPHTV-1 was 69 plaque forming units (PFUs) cell-1. The genome of YPHTV-1 was 37,980 bp with a GC content of 36.2%. The phylogenetic analysis of the six conserved proteins indicated that YPHTV-1 formed a cluster with Bacillus phages and was separated from phages infecting Halomonas. The average nucleotide identity (ANI), phylogenetic, and network analyses indicated that the phage YPHTV-1 represented a new genus under Caudoviricetes. In total, 57 open reading frames (ORFs) were predicted in the YPHTV-1 genome, 30 of which could be annotated in the database. Notably, several auxiliary metabolic genes were encoded by YPHTV-1, such as ImmA/IrrE family metalloendopeptidase, mannose-binding lectin (MBL) folding metallohydrolase, M15 family of metal peptidases, MazG-like family protein, O antigen ligase, and acyltransferase. These genes potentially enabled the host bacterium to resist ionizing radiation, ultraviolet light (UV), mitomycin C, β-lactam antibiotic, high osmotic pressure, and nutritional deficiencies. These findings highlight the role of haloviruses in the life cycle of halobacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaixin Diao
- Yunnan Institute of Microbiology, Yunnan International Joint Laboratory of Virology & Immunology, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Guohui Li
- Yunnan Institute of Microbiology, Yunnan International Joint Laboratory of Virology & Immunology, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Xueqin Sun
- Yunnan Institute of Microbiology, Yunnan International Joint Laboratory of Virology & Immunology, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Hao Yi
- Yunnan Institute of Microbiology, Yunnan International Joint Laboratory of Virology & Immunology, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Shiying Zhang
- Yunnan Soil Fertilization and Pollution Remediation Engineering Research Center, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China
| | - Wei Xiao
- Yunnan Institute of Microbiology, Yunnan International Joint Laboratory of Virology & Immunology, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China
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Patil R, Dehari D, Chaudhuri A, Kumar DN, Kumar D, Singh S, Nath G, Agrawal AK. Recent advancements in nanotechnology-based bacteriophage delivery strategies against bacterial ocular infections. Microbiol Res 2023; 273:127413. [PMID: 37216845 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2023.127413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance is growing as a critical challenge in a variety of disease conditions including ocular infections leading to disastrous effects on the human eyes. Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) mediated ocular infections are very common affecting different parts of the eye viz. vitreous chamber, conjunctiva, cornea, anterior and posterior chambers, tear duct, and eyelids. Blepharitis, dacryocystitis, conjunctivitis, keratitis, endophthalmitis, and orbital cellulitis are some of the commonly known ocular infections caused by S. aureus. Some of these infections are so fatal that they could cause bilateral blindness like panophthalmitis and orbital cellulitis, which is caused by methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistance S. aureus (VRSA). The treatment of S. aureus infections with known antibiotics is becoming gradually difficult because of the development of resistance against multiple antibiotics. Apart from the different combinations and formulation strategies, bacteriophage therapy is growing as an effective alternative to treat such infections. Although the superiority of bacteriophage therapy is well established, yet physical factors (high temperatures, acidic pH, UV-rays, and ionic strength) and pharmaceutical barriers (poor stability, low in-vivo retention, controlled and targeted delivery, immune system neutralization, etc.) have the greatest influence on the viability of phage virions (also phage proteins). A variety of Nanotechnology based formulations such as polymeric nanoparticles, liposomes, dendrimers, nanoemulsions, and nanofibres have been recently reported to overcome the above-mentioned obstacles. In this review, we have compiled all these recent reports and discussed bacteriophage-based nanoformulations techniques for the successful treatment of ocular infections caused by multidrug-resistant S. aureus and other bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rohit Patil
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi 221005, U.P., India
| | - Deepa Dehari
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi 221005, U.P., India
| | - Aiswarya Chaudhuri
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi 221005, U.P., India
| | - Dulla Naveen Kumar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi 221005, U.P., India
| | - Dinesh Kumar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi 221005, U.P., India
| | - Sanjay Singh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi 221005, U.P., India; Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow 226025, U.P., India
| | - Gopal Nath
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, U.P., India
| | - Ashish Kumar Agrawal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi 221005, U.P., India.
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Batinovic S, Stanton CR, Rice DTF, Rowe B, Beer M, Petrovski S. Tyroviruses are a new group of temperate phages that infect Bacillus species in soil environments worldwide. BMC Genomics 2022; 23:777. [PMID: 36443683 PMCID: PMC9703825 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-022-09023-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bacteriophages are widely considered to be highly abundant and genetically diverse, with their role in the evolution and virulence of many pathogens becoming increasingly clear. Less attention has been paid on phages preying on Bacillus, despite the potential for some of its members, such as Bacillus anthracis, to cause serious human disease. RESULTS We have isolated five phages infecting the causative agent of anthrax, Bacillus anthracis. Using modern phylogenetic approaches we place these five new Bacillus phages, as well as 21 similar phage genomes retrieved from publicly available databases and metagenomic datasets into the Tyrovirus group, a newly proposed group named so due to the conservation of three distinct tyrosine recombinases. Genomic analysis of these large phages (~ 160-170 kb) reveals their DNA packaging mechanism and genomic features contributing to virion morphogenesis, host cell lysis and phage DNA replication processes. Analysis of the three tyrosine recombinases suggest Tyroviruses undergo a prophage lifecycle that may involve both host integration and plasmid stages. Further we show that Tyroviruses rely on divergent invasion mechanisms, with a subset requiring host S-layer for infection. CONCLUSIONS Ultimately, we expand upon our understanding on the classification, phylogeny, and genomic organisation of a new and substantial phage group that prey on critically relevant Bacillus species. In an era characterised by a rapidly evolving landscape of phage genomics the deposition of future Tyroviruses will allow the further unravelling of the global spread and evolutionary history of these Bacillus phages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Batinovic
- grid.1018.80000 0001 2342 0938Department of Physiology, Anatomy, and Microbiology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC Australia ,grid.268446.a0000 0001 2185 8709Present address: Division of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Yokohama National University, Yokohama, Kanagawa Japan
| | - Cassandra R. Stanton
- grid.1018.80000 0001 2342 0938Department of Physiology, Anatomy, and Microbiology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC Australia
| | - Daniel T. F. Rice
- grid.1018.80000 0001 2342 0938Department of Physiology, Anatomy, and Microbiology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC Australia
| | - Brittany Rowe
- grid.1018.80000 0001 2342 0938Department of Physiology, Anatomy, and Microbiology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC Australia
| | - Michael Beer
- grid.431245.50000 0004 0385 5290Defence Science and Technology Group, Fishermans Bend, Victoria, Australia
| | - Steve Petrovski
- grid.1018.80000 0001 2342 0938Department of Physiology, Anatomy, and Microbiology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC Australia
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Hinnekens P, Fayad N, Gillis A, Mahillon J. Conjugation across Bacillus cereus and kin: A review. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1034440. [PMID: 36406448 PMCID: PMC9673590 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1034440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is a major driving force in shaping bacterial communities. Key elements responsible for HGT are conjugation-like events and transmissible plasmids. Conjugative plasmids can promote their own transfer as well as that of co-resident plasmids. Bacillus cereus and relatives harbor a plethora of plasmids, including conjugative plasmids, which are at the heart of the group species differentiation and specification. Since the first report of a conjugation-like event between strains of B. cereus sensu lato (s.l.) 40 years ago, many have studied the potential of plasmid transfer across the group, especially for plasmids encoding major toxins. Over the years, more than 20 plasmids from B. cereus isolates have been reported as conjugative. However, with the increasing number of genomic data available, in silico analyses indicate that more plasmids from B. cereus s.l. genomes present self-transfer potential. B. cereus s.l. bacteria occupy diverse environmental niches, which were mimicked in laboratory conditions to study conjugation-related mechanisms. Laboratory mating conditions remain nonetheless simplistic compared to the complex interactions occurring in natural environments. Given the health, economic and ecological importance of strains of B. cereus s.l., it is of prime importance to consider the impact of conjugation within this bacterial group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline Hinnekens
- Laboratory of Food and Environmental Microbiology, Earth and Life Institute, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Nancy Fayad
- Multi-Omics Laboratory, School of Pharmacy, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon
| | - Annika Gillis
- Laboratory of Food and Environmental Microbiology, Earth and Life Institute, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Jacques Mahillon
- Laboratory of Food and Environmental Microbiology, Earth and Life Institute, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
- *Correspondence: Jacques Mahillon,
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Xiao Y, Huang P, Huang Z, Yu K, Song Y, Guo N, Dai H, Jiang M, Xu Y, Wang D, Wei Q. Influencing factors on the preservation of lytic bacteriophage VP3. BIOSAFETY AND HEALTH 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bsheal.2022.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
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A Comparative Analysis of Weizmannia coagulans Genomes Unravels the Genetic Potential for Biotechnological Applications. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23063135. [PMID: 35328559 PMCID: PMC8954581 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23063135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The production of biochemicals requires the use of microbial strains with efficient substrate conversion and excellent environmental robustness, such as Weizmannia coagulans species. So far, the genomes of 47 strains have been sequenced. Herein, we report a comparative genomic analysis of nine strains on the full repertoire of Carbohydrate-Active enZymes (CAZymes), secretion systems, and resistance mechanisms to environmental challenges. Moreover, Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) immune system along with CRISPR-associated (Cas) genes, was also analyzed. Overall, this study expands our understanding of the strain's genomic diversity of W. coagulans to fully exploit its potential in biotechnological applications.
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A novel Bacillus cereus bacteriophage DLn1 and its endolysin as biocontrol agents against Bacillus cereus in milk. Int J Food Microbiol 2022; 369:109615. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2022.109615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Nakonieczna A, Rutyna P, Fedorowicz M, Kwiatek M, Mizak L, Łobocka M. Three Novel Bacteriophages, J5a, F16Ba, and z1a, Specific for Bacillus anthracis, Define a New Clade of Historical Wbeta Phage Relatives. Viruses 2022; 14:v14020213. [PMID: 35215807 PMCID: PMC8878798 DOI: 10.3390/v14020213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Revised: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacillus anthracis is a potent biowarfare agent, able to be highly lethal. The bacteria dwell in the soil of certain regions, as natural flora. Bacteriophages or their lytic enzymes, endolysins, may be an alternative for antibiotics and other antibacterials to fight this pathogen in infections and to minimize environmental contamination with anthrax endospores. Upon screening environmental samples from various regions in Poland, we isolated three new siphophages, J5a, F16Ba, and z1a, specific for B. anthracis. They represent new species related to historical anthrax phages Gamma, Cherry, and Fah, and to phage Wbeta of Wbetavirus genus. We show that the new phages and their closest relatives, phages Tavor_SA, Negev_SA, and Carmel_SA, form a separate clade of the Wbetavirus genus, designated as J5a clade. The most distinctive feature of J5a clade phages is their cell lysis module. While in the historical phages it encodes a canonical endolysin and a class III holin, in J5a clade phages it encodes an endolysin with a signal peptide and two putative holins. We present the basic characteristic of the isolated phages. Their comparative genomic analysis indicates that they encode two receptor-binding proteins, of which one may bind a sugar moiety of B. anthracis cell surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Nakonieczna
- Biological Threats Identification and Countermeasure Center, Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, 24-100 Pulawy, Poland; (P.R.); (M.F.); (M.K.); (L.M.)
- Correspondence: (A.N.); (M.Ł.)
| | - Paweł Rutyna
- Biological Threats Identification and Countermeasure Center, Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, 24-100 Pulawy, Poland; (P.R.); (M.F.); (M.K.); (L.M.)
| | - Magdalena Fedorowicz
- Biological Threats Identification and Countermeasure Center, Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, 24-100 Pulawy, Poland; (P.R.); (M.F.); (M.K.); (L.M.)
| | - Magdalena Kwiatek
- Biological Threats Identification and Countermeasure Center, Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, 24-100 Pulawy, Poland; (P.R.); (M.F.); (M.K.); (L.M.)
| | - Lidia Mizak
- Biological Threats Identification and Countermeasure Center, Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, 24-100 Pulawy, Poland; (P.R.); (M.F.); (M.K.); (L.M.)
| | - Małgorzata Łobocka
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics of the Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
- Correspondence: (A.N.); (M.Ł.)
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Tkachev PV, Goncharov A, Dmitriev A. Temperate enterococcal bacteriophages: genetic features and practical application. CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND ANTIMICROBIAL CHEMOTHERAPY 2022. [DOI: 10.36488/cmac.2022.3.213-218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Temperate bacteriophages are of interest as carriers and vectors of pathogenicity factors that determine an epidemic potential of opportunistic bacteria as well as biotechnology objects. This review describes studies of temperate bacteriophages infecting bacteria of the genus Enterococcus, including strains associated with the development of nosocomial infections. Genetic features of moderate enterococcal phages as well as their potential for practical application in medicine are considered.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - A.E. Goncharov
- Institute of Experimental Medicine (Saint-Petersburg, Russia)
| | - A.V. Dmitriev
- Institute of Experimental Medicine (Saint-Petersburg, Russia)
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13
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Fayad N, Koné KM, Gillis A, Mahillon J. Bacillus cytotoxicus Genomics: Chromosomal Diversity and Plasmidome Versatility. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:789929. [PMID: 34992589 PMCID: PMC8725734 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.789929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacillus cytotoxicus is the thermotolerant representative of the Bacillus cereus group. This group, also known as B. cereus sensu lato, comprises both beneficial and pathogenic members and includes psychrotolerant and thermotolerant species. Bacillus cytotoxicus was originally recovered from a fatal outbreak in France in 1998. This species forms a remote cluster from the B. cereus group members and reliably contains the cytk-1 gene, coding for a cytotoxic variant of cytotoxin K. Although this species was originally thought to be homogenous, intra-species diversity has been recently described with four clades, six random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) patterns, and 11 plasmids profiles. This study aimed to get new insights into the genomic diversity of B. cytotoxicus and to decipher the underlying chromosomal and plasmidial variations among six representative isolates through whole genome sequencing (WGS). Among the six sequenced strains, four fitted the previously described genomic clades A and D, while the remaining two constituted new distinct branches. As for the plasmid content of these strains, three large plasmids were putatively conjugative and three small ones potentially mobilizable, harboring coding genes for putative leaderless bacteriocins. Mobile genetic elements, such as prophages, Insertion Sequences (IS), and Bacillus cereus repeats (bcr) greatly contributed to the B. cytotoxicus diversity. As for IS elements and bcr, IS3 and bcr1 were the most abundant elements and, along with the group II intron B.c.I8, were found in all analyzed B. cytotoxicus strains. When compared to other B. cytotoxicus strains, the type-strain NVH 391-98 displayed a relatively low number of IS. Our results shed new light on the contribution of mobile genetic elements to the genome plasticity of B. cytotoxicus and their potential role in horizontal gene transfer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy Fayad
- Laboratory of Food and Environmental Microbiology, Earth and Life Institute, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
- School of Pharmacy, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon
| | - Klèma Marcel Koné
- Laboratory of Food and Environmental Microbiology, Earth and Life Institute, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Annika Gillis
- Laboratory of Food and Environmental Microbiology, Earth and Life Institute, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Jacques Mahillon
- Laboratory of Food and Environmental Microbiology, Earth and Life Institute, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
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14
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Unraveling Protein Interactions between the Temperate Virus Bam35 and Its Bacillus Host Using an Integrative Yeast Two Hybrid-High Throughput Sequencing Approach. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222011105. [PMID: 34681765 PMCID: PMC8539640 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222011105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacillus virus Bam35 is the model Betatectivirus and member of the family Tectiviridae, which is composed of tailless, icosahedral, and membrane-containing bacteriophages. Interest in these viruses has greatly increased in recent years as they are thought to be an evolutionary link between diverse groups of prokaryotic and eukaryotic viruses. Additionally, betatectiviruses infect bacteria of the Bacillus cereus group, which are known for their applications in industry and notorious since it contains many pathogens. Here, we present the first protein–protein interactions (PPIs) network for a tectivirus–host system by studying the Bam35–Bacillus thuringiensis model using a novel approach that integrates the traditional yeast two-hybrid system and high-throughput sequencing (Y2H-HTS). We generated and thoroughly analyzed a genomic library of Bam35′s host B. thuringiensis HER1410 and screened interactions with all the viral proteins using different combinations of bait–prey couples. Initial analysis of the raw data enabled the identification of over 4000 candidate interactions, which were sequentially filtered to produce 182 high-confidence interactions that were defined as part of the core virus–host interactome. Overall, host metabolism proteins and peptidases were particularly enriched within the detected interactions, distinguishing this host–phage system from the other reported host–phage PPIs. Our approach also suggested biological roles for several Bam35 proteins of unknown function, including the membrane structural protein P25, which may be a viral hub with a role in host membrane modification during viral particle morphogenesis. This work resulted in a better understanding of the Bam35–B. thuringiensis interaction at the molecular level and holds great potential for the generalization of the Y2H-HTS approach for other virus–host models.
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15
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Loganathan A, Manohar P, Eniyan K, VinodKumar CS, Leptihn S, Nachimuthu R. Phage therapy as a revolutionary medicine against Gram-positive bacterial infections. BENI-SUEF UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OF BASIC AND APPLIED SCIENCES 2021; 10:49. [PMID: 34485539 PMCID: PMC8401357 DOI: 10.1186/s43088-021-00141-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antibiotic resistance among pathogenic bacteria has created a global emergency, prompting the hunt for an alternative cure. Bacteriophages were discovered over a century ago and have proven to be a successful replacement during antibiotic treatment failure. This review discusses on the scientific investigation of phage therapy for Gram-positive pathogens and general outlook of phage therapy clinical trials and commercialization. MAIN BODY OF THE ABSTRACT This review aimed to highlight the phage therapy in Gram-positive bacteria and the need for phage therapy in the future. Phage therapy to treat Gram-positive bacterial infections is in use for a very long time. However, limited review on the phage efficacy in Gram-positive bacteria exists. The natural efficiency and potency of bacteriophages against bacterial strains have been advantageous amidst the other non-antibiotic agents. The use of phages to treat oral biofilm, skin infection, and recurrent infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria has emerged as a predominant research area in recent years. In addition, the upsurge in research in the area of phage therapy for spore-forming Gram-positive bacteria has added a wealth of information to phage therapy. SHORT CONCLUSION We conclude that the need of phage as an alternative treatment is obvious in future. However, phage therapy can be used as reserve treatment. This review focuses on the potential use of phage therapy in treating Gram-positive bacterial infections, as well as their therapeutic aspects. Furthermore, we discussed the difficulties in commercializing phage drugs and their problems as a breakthrough medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Archana Loganathan
- School of Bioscience and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, Tamil Nadu India
| | - Prasanth Manohar
- Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh (ZJU-UoE) Institute, Zhejiang University, School of Medicine, Haining, 314400 Zhejiang People’s Republic of China
- School of Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital Zhejiang University (SAHZU), Hangzhou, Zhejiang People’s Republic of China
| | - Kandasamy Eniyan
- School of Bioscience and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, Tamil Nadu India
| | - C. S. VinodKumar
- Department of Microbiology, S.S. Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Davanagere, India
| | - Sebastian Leptihn
- Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh (ZJU-UoE) Institute, Zhejiang University, School of Medicine, Haining, 314400 Zhejiang People’s Republic of China
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Infection Medicine, Biomedical Sciences, Edinburgh Medical School, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, 1 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ UK
| | - Ramesh Nachimuthu
- School of Bioscience and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, Tamil Nadu India
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16
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Phongtang W, Chukeatirote E. Incidence and characterisation of Bacillus cereus bacteriophages from Thua Nao, a Thai fermented soybean product. Biomol Concepts 2021; 12:85-93. [PMID: 34218551 DOI: 10.1515/bmc-2021-0009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacillus cereus is considered to be an important food poisoning agent causing diarrhea and vomiting. In this study, the occurrence of B. cereus bacteriophages in Thai fermented soybean products (Thua Nao) was studied using five B. cereus sensu lato indicator strains (four B. cereus strains and one B. thuringiensis strain). In a total of 26 Thua Nao samples, there were only two bacteriophages namely BaceFT01 and BaceCM02 exhibiting lytic activity against B. cereus. Morphological analysis revealed that these two bacteriophages belonged to the Myoviridae. Both phages were specific to B. cereus and not able to lyse other tested bacteria including B. licheniformis and B. subtilis. The two phages were able to survive in a pH range between 5 and 12. However, both phages were inactive either by treatment of 50°C for 2 h or exposure of UV for 2 h. It should be noted that both phages were chloroform-insensitive, however. This is the first report describing the presence of bacteriophages in Thua Nao products. The characterization of these two phages is expected to be useful in the food industry for an alternative strategy including the potential use of the phages as a biocontrol candidate against foodborne pathogenic bacteria.
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Gillis A, Hock L, Mahillon J. Comparative Genomics of Prophages Sato and Sole Expands the Genetic Diversity Found in the Genus Betatectivirus. Microorganisms 2021; 9:1335. [PMID: 34205474 PMCID: PMC8234876 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9061335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 06/13/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Tectiviruses infecting the Bacillus cereus group represent part of the bacterial "plasmid repertoire" as they behave as linear plasmids during their lysogenic cycle. Several novel tectiviruses have been recently found infecting diverse strains belonging the B. cereus lineage. Here, we report and analyze the complete genome sequences of phages Sato and Sole. The linear dsDNA genome of Sato spans 14,852 bp with 32 coding DNA sequences (CDSs), whereas the one of Sole has 14,444 bp comprising 30 CDSs. Both phage genomes contain inverted terminal repeats and no tRNAs. Genomic comparisons and phylogenetic analyses placed these two phages within the genus Betatectivirus in the family Tectiviridae. Additional comparative genomic analyses indicated that the "gene regulation-genome replication" module of phages Sato and Sole is more diverse than previously observed among other fully sequenced betatectiviruses, displaying very low sequence similarities and containing some ORFans. Interestingly, the ssDNA binding protein encoded in this genomic module in phages Sato and Sole has very little amino acid similarity with those of reference betatectiviruses. Phylogenetic analyses showed that both Sato and Sole represent novel tectivirus species, thus we propose to include them as two novel species in the genus Betatectivirus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika Gillis
- Laboratory of Food and Environmental Microbiology, Earth and Life Institute, UCLouvain, Croix du Sud 2, L7.05.12, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium;
| | | | - Jacques Mahillon
- Laboratory of Food and Environmental Microbiology, Earth and Life Institute, UCLouvain, Croix du Sud 2, L7.05.12, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium;
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18
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Wan X, Geng P, Sun J, Yuan Z, Hu X. Characterization of two newly isolated bacteriophages PW2 and PW4 and derived endolysins with lysis activity against Bacillus cereus group strains. Virus Res 2021; 302:198489. [PMID: 34146612 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2021.198489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 06/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
This study characterized two novel Siphoviridae phages, PW2 and PW4, that can infect 52% and 44% of the tested Bacillus cereus group isolates and display relatively high activity against four cereulide-producing isolates belonging to B. weihenstephanensis and B. paranthracis. The genome sequences of PW2 and PW4 are similar to six known phages infecting B. cereus group isolates, which can be classified into two conserved groups, with the PW2 genome harboring conserved coding sequences (CDSs) from both groups. Two phage-derived endolysins, LysPW2 and LysPW4, which are predicted to encode N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine amidase, and their enzymatically active domains (EADs), LysPW2-EAD and LysPW4-EAD, were heterologously expressed. Both LysPW2 and LysPW4, especially the former, show a much wider host range than the phages, albeit still limited to the B. cereus group for the tested bacteria. The optimal temperature and pH for LysPW2 ability is 37 °C and pH 8.0 and for LysPW4 is 50 °C and pH 9.0. Neither LysPW2-EAD nor LysPW4-EAD show any lytic activity against vegetative cells of the tested B. cereus group isolates but can inhibit germination in 66.3% and 65.7% of spores, respectively. In addition, both LysPW2-EAD and LysPW4-EAD exhibit spore-binding capabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofu Wan
- Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430070, China; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China; College of Life Science, South-Central University for Nationalities, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Peiling Geng
- College of Life Science, South-Central University for Nationalities, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Jiahui Sun
- Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430070, China; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Zhiming Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430070, China.
| | - Xiaomin Hu
- College of Life Science, South-Central University for Nationalities, Wuhan 430074, China.
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19
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Pfeifer E, Moura de Sousa JA, Touchon M, Rocha EPC. Bacteria have numerous distinctive groups of phage-plasmids with conserved phage and variable plasmid gene repertoires. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:2655-2673. [PMID: 33590101 PMCID: PMC7969092 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasmids and temperate phages are key contributors to bacterial evolution. They are usually regarded as very distinct. However, some elements, termed phage–plasmids, are known to be both plasmids and phages, e.g. P1, N15 or SSU5. The number, distribution, relatedness and characteristics of these phage–plasmids are poorly known. Here, we screened for these elements among ca. 2500 phages and 12000 plasmids and identified 780 phage–plasmids across very diverse bacterial phyla. We grouped 92% of them by similarity of gene repertoires to eight defined groups and 18 other broader communities of elements. The existence of these large groups suggests that phage–plasmids are ancient. Their gene repertoires are large, the average element is larger than an average phage or plasmid, and they include slightly more homologs to phages than to plasmids. We analyzed the pangenomes and the genetic organization of each group of phage–plasmids and found the key phage genes to be conserved and co-localized within distinct groups, whereas genes with homologs in plasmids are much more variable and include most accessory genes. Phage–plasmids are a sizeable fraction of the sequenced plasmids (∼7%) and phages (∼5%), and could have key roles in bridging the genetic divide between phages and other mobile genetic elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugen Pfeifer
- Microbial Evolutionary Genomics, Institut Pasteur, CNRS, UMR3525, Paris 75015, France
| | | | - Marie Touchon
- Microbial Evolutionary Genomics, Institut Pasteur, CNRS, UMR3525, Paris 75015, France
| | - Eduardo P C Rocha
- Microbial Evolutionary Genomics, Institut Pasteur, CNRS, UMR3525, Paris 75015, France
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20
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Skorynina AV, Piligrimova EG, Kazantseva OA, Kulyabin VA, Baicher SD, Ryabova NA, Shadrin AM. Bacillus-infecting bacteriophage Izhevsk harbors thermostable endolysin with broad range specificity. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0242657. [PMID: 33232350 PMCID: PMC7685451 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0242657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Several bacterial species belonging to the Bacillus cereus group are known to be causative agents of food poisoning and severe human diseases. Bacteriophages and their lytic enzymes called endolysins have been widely shown to provide for a supplemental or primary means of treating bacterial infections. In this work we present a new broad-host-range phage Izhevsk, which infects the members of the Bacillus cereus group. Transmission electron microscopy, genome sequencing and comparative analyses revealed that Izhevsk is a temperate phage with Siphoviridae morphology and belongs to the same genus as the previously described but taxonomically unclassified bacteriophages Tsamsa and Diildio. The Ply57 endolysin of Izhevsk phage has broad-spectrum activity against B. cereus sensu lato. The thermolability of Ply57 is higher than that of the PlyG of Wβ phage. This work contributes to our current understanding of phage biodiversity and may be useful for further development of efficient antimicrobials aimed at diagnosing and treating infectious diseases and food contaminations caused by the Bacillus cereus group of bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna V. Skorynina
- G.K. Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Federal Research Center, Pushchino, Russia
| | - Emma G. Piligrimova
- G.K. Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Federal Research Center, Pushchino, Russia
| | - Olesya A. Kazantseva
- G.K. Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Federal Research Center, Pushchino, Russia
| | - Vladislav A. Kulyabin
- G.K. Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Federal Research Center, Pushchino, Russia
| | - Svetlana D. Baicher
- G.K. Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Federal Research Center, Pushchino, Russia
| | | | - Andrey M. Shadrin
- G.K. Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Federal Research Center, Pushchino, Russia
- * E-mail: ,
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21
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Li C, Yuan X, Li N, Wang J, Yu S, Zeng H, Zhang J, Wu Q, Ding Y. Isolation and Characterization of Bacillus cereus Phage vB_BceP-DLc1 Reveals the Largest Member of the Φ29-Like Phages. Microorganisms 2020; 8:E1750. [PMID: 33171789 PMCID: PMC7695010 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8111750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2020] [Revised: 10/31/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacillus phage φ29 and its relatives have been considered as one of the most important model organisms for DNA replication, transcription, morphogenesis, DNA packaging studies, and nanotechnology applications. Here, we isolated and characterized a new member of the φ29-like phage, named Bacillus cereus phage vB_BceP-DLc1. This phage, with a unique inserted gene cluster, has the largest genome among known φ29-like phages. DLc1 can use the surface carbohydrate structures of the host cell as receptors and only infects the most related B. cereus strains, showing high host-specificity. The adsorption rate constant and life cycle of DLc1 under experimental conditions were also determined. Not only stable under temperatures below 55 °C and pH range from 5 to 11, the new phage also showed tolerance to high concentrations of NaCl, 75% ethanol, chloroform, and mechanical vortex, which is preferable for practical use in the food and pharmaceutical industries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun Li
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition, College of Science & Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; (C.L.); (X.Y.); (N.L.)
| | - Xiaoming Yuan
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition, College of Science & Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; (C.L.); (X.Y.); (N.L.)
- College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Guangdong Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, China; (S.Y.); (H.Z.); (J.Z.); (Q.W.)
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, Guangdong Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, China
- Guangdong Open Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Guangdong Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, China
| | - Na Li
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition, College of Science & Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; (C.L.); (X.Y.); (N.L.)
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Guangdong Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, China; (S.Y.); (H.Z.); (J.Z.); (Q.W.)
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, Guangdong Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, China
- Guangdong Open Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Guangdong Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, China
| | - Juan Wang
- College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China;
| | - Shubo Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Guangdong Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, China; (S.Y.); (H.Z.); (J.Z.); (Q.W.)
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, Guangdong Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, China
- Guangdong Open Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Guangdong Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, China
| | - Haiyan Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Guangdong Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, China; (S.Y.); (H.Z.); (J.Z.); (Q.W.)
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, Guangdong Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, China
- Guangdong Open Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Guangdong Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, China
| | - Jumei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Guangdong Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, China; (S.Y.); (H.Z.); (J.Z.); (Q.W.)
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, Guangdong Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, China
- Guangdong Open Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Guangdong Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, China
| | - Qingping Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Guangdong Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, China; (S.Y.); (H.Z.); (J.Z.); (Q.W.)
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, Guangdong Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, China
- Guangdong Open Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Guangdong Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, China
| | - Yu Ding
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition, College of Science & Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; (C.L.); (X.Y.); (N.L.)
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Guangdong Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, China; (S.Y.); (H.Z.); (J.Z.); (Q.W.)
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, Guangdong Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, China
- Guangdong Open Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Guangdong Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, China
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22
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Hernández S, Vives MJ. Phages in Anaerobic Systems. Viruses 2020; 12:E1091. [PMID: 32993161 PMCID: PMC7599459 DOI: 10.3390/v12101091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [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: 08/01/2020] [Revised: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the discovery of phages in 1915, these viruses have been studied mostly in aerobic systems, or without considering the availability of oxygen as a variable that may affect the interaction between the virus and its host. However, with such great abundance of anaerobic environments on the planet, the effect that a lack of oxygen can have on the phage-bacteria relationship is an important consideration. There are few studies on obligate anaerobes that investigate the role of anoxia in causing infection. In the case of facultative anaerobes, it is a well-known fact that their shifting from an aerobic environment to an anaerobic one involves metabolic changes in the bacteria. As the phage infection process depends on the metabolic state of the host bacteria, these changes are also expected to affect the phage infection cycle. This review summarizes the available information on phages active on facultative and obligate anaerobes and discusses how anaerobiosis can be an important parameter in phage infection, especially among facultative anaerobes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santiago Hernández
- Department of Biological Sciences, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá 111711, Colombia;
| | - Martha J. Vives
- Department of Biological Sciences, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá 111711, Colombia;
- School of Sciences, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá 111711, Colombia
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23
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Characterization of PlyB221 and PlyP32, Two Novel Endolysins Encoded by Phages Preying on the Bacillus cereus Group. Viruses 2020; 12:v12091052. [PMID: 32967292 PMCID: PMC7551664 DOI: 10.3390/v12091052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Endolysins are phage-encoded enzymes implicated in the breaching of the bacterial cell wall at the end of the viral cycle. This study focuses on the endolysins of Deep-Blue (PlyB221) and Deep-Purple (PlyP32), two phages preying on the Bacillus cereus group. Both enzymes exhibit a typical modular organization with an enzymatically active domain (EAD) located in the N-terminal and a cell wall binding domain (CBD) in the C-terminal part of the protein. In silico analysis indicated that the EAD domains of PlyB221 and PlyP32 are endowed with peptidase and muramidase activities, respectively, whereas in both proteins SH3 domains are involved in the CBD. To evaluate their antimicrobial properties and binding specificity, both endolysins were expressed and purified. PlyB221 and PlyP32 efficiently recognized and lysed all the tested strains from the B. cereus group. Biochemical characterization showed that PlyB221 activity was stable under a wide range of pHs (5–9), NaCl concentrations (up to 200 mM), and temperature treatments (up to 50 °C). Although PlyP32 activity was less stable than that of PlyB221, the endolysin displayed high activity at pH 6–7, NaCl concentration up to 100 mM and the temperature treatment up to 45 °C. Overall, PlyB221 and PlyP32 display suitable characteristics for the development of biocontrol and detection tools.
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Completed Genomic Sequence of Bacillus thuringiensis HER1410 Reveals a Cry-Containing Chromosome, Two Megaplasmids, and an Integrative Plasmidial Prophage. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2020; 10:2927-2939. [PMID: 32690586 PMCID: PMC7466992 DOI: 10.1534/g3.120.401361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Bacillus thuringiensis is the most used biopesticide in agriculture. Its entomopathogenic capacity stems from the possession of plasmid-borne insecticidal crystal genes (cry), traditionally used as discriminant taxonomic feature for that species. As such, crystal and plasmid identification are key to the characterization of this species. To date, about 600 B. thuringiensis genomes have been reported, but less than 5% have been completed, while the other draft genomes are incomplete, hindering full plasmid delineation. Here we present the complete genome of Bacillus thuringiensis HER1410, a strain closely related to B. thuringiensis entomocidus and a known host for a variety of Bacillus phages. The combination of short and long-read techniques allowed fully resolving the genome and delineation of three plasmids. This enabled the accurate detection of an unusual location of a unique cry gene, cry1Ba4, located in a genomic island near the chromosome replication origin. Two megaplasmids, pLUSID1 and pLUSID2 could be delineated: pLUSID1 (368 kb), a likely conjugative plasmid involved in virulence, and pLUSID2 (156 kb) potentially related to the sporulation process. A smaller plasmidial prophage pLUSID3, with a dual lifestyle whose integration within the chromosome causes the disruption of a flagellar key component. Finally, phylogenetic analysis placed this strain within a clade comprising members from the B. thuringiensis serovar thuringiensis and other serovars and with B. cereus s. s. in agreement with the intermingled taxonomy of B. cereus sensu lato group.
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Schüler MA, Stegmann BA, Poehlein A, Daniel R, Dürre P. Genome sequence analysis of the temperate bacteriophage TBP2 of the solvent producer Clostridium saccharoperbutylacetonicum N1-4 (HMT, ATCC 27021). FEMS Microbiol Lett 2020; 367:5866474. [PMID: 32614389 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnaa103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2019] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The genus Clostridium consists of a diverse group of pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria. The non-pathogenic clostridia contain several solventogenic members of industrial importance, such as Clostridium acetobutylicum or C. beijerinckii. In the process of acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation, these strains are used in large scale fermentation plants since almost 100 years. Soon after establishment of the first plants, the fermentation processes suffered from different bacteriophage infections worldwide. A limited set of studies addressing bacteriophages in solventogenic clostridia have been conducted since then. In this study, we present the genome sequence of the temperate bacteriophage TBP2 of the solventogenic strain C. saccharoperbutylacetonicum N1-4 (HMT) that is used for ABE fermentation. The phage genome consists of 38 039 bp and includes 48 open reading frames. Sequence analysis indicates that the genome encloses random parts of the bacterial genome in addition to its own DNA. It represents the first fully sequenced genome of a temperate bacteriophage infecting solventogenic clostridia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam A Schüler
- Genomic and Applied Microbiology & Göttingen Genomics Laboratory, Georg-August University, Grisebachstr. 8, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Benjamin A Stegmann
- Institut für Mikrobiologie und Biotechnologie, Universität Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, D-89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Anja Poehlein
- Genomic and Applied Microbiology & Göttingen Genomics Laboratory, Georg-August University, Grisebachstr. 8, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Rolf Daniel
- Genomic and Applied Microbiology & Göttingen Genomics Laboratory, Georg-August University, Grisebachstr. 8, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Peter Dürre
- Institut für Mikrobiologie und Biotechnologie, Universität Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, D-89081, Ulm, Germany
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Complete Genome Sequence of Bacillus cereus Bacteriophage vB_BceS_KLEB30-3S. Microbiol Resour Announc 2020; 9:9/20/e00348-20. [PMID: 32409544 PMCID: PMC7225543 DOI: 10.1128/mra.00348-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we present the genomic characterization of the temperate bacteriophage vB_BceS_KLEB30-3S (KLEB30-3S), which was induced from Bacillus cereus strain KR3M-30, isolated from a gypsum karst lake ecosystem in Lithuania. The 37,134-bp genome of KLEB30-3S contains 58 predicted protein-encoding genes and no tRNA genes. In this study, we present the genomic characterization of the temperate bacteriophage vB_BceS_KLEB30-3S (KLEB30-3S), which was induced from Bacillus cereus strain KR3M-30, isolated from a gypsum karst lake ecosystem in Lithuania. The 37,134-bp genome of KLEB30-3S contains 58 predicted protein-encoding genes and no tRNA genes.
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Reuter M, Kruger DH. Approaches to optimize therapeutic bacteriophage and bacteriophage-derived products to combat bacterial infections. Virus Genes 2020; 56:136-149. [PMID: 32036540 PMCID: PMC7223754 DOI: 10.1007/s11262-020-01735-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 01/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The emerging occurrence of antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens leads to a recollection of bacteriophage as antimicrobial therapeutics. This article presents a short overview of the clinical phage application including their use in military medicine and discusses the genotypic and phenotypic properties of a potential "ideal" therapeutic phage. We describe current efforts to engineer phage for their improved usability in pathogen treatment. In addition, phage can be applied for pathogen detection, selective drug delivery, vaccine development, or food and surface decontamination. Instead of viable phage, (engineered) phage-derived enzymes, such as polysaccharide depolymerases or peptidoglycan-degrading enzymes, are considered as promising therapeutic candidates. Finally, we briefly summarize the use of phage for the detection and treatment of "Category A priority pathogens".
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Reuter
- Institute of Virology, Helmut-Ruska-Haus, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Detlev H. Kruger
- Institute of Virology, Helmut-Ruska-Haus, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
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28
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Abstract
Here, the genome sequences of two soil bacteriophages isolated from a red chili plantation in Indonesia are presented. The genome of vB_BspS_SplendidRed (42,859 bp) is highly similar to Bacillus phage Ray17 from the United States, while vB_BspM_MarvelLand (156,945 bp) is highly similar to Bacillus phage BC01 from South Korea. Here, the genome sequences of two soil bacteriophages isolated from a red chili plantation in Indonesia are presented. The genome of vB_BspS_SplendidRed (42,859 bp) is highly similar to Bacillus phage Ray17 from the United States, while vB_BspM_MarvelLand (156,945 bp) is highly similar to Bacillus phage BC01 from South Korea.
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Fu Y, Deng S, Liang L, Wu Y, Gao M. Complete genome sequence of the novel phage vB_BthS-HD29phi infecting Bacillus thuringiensis. Arch Virol 2019; 164:3089-3093. [PMID: 31595357 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-019-04416-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The phage vB_BthS-HD29phi infecting Bacillus thuringiensis strain HD29 was isolated and purified. The morphology of the phage showed that it belongs to the family Siphoviridae. The phage genome was 32,181 bp in length, comprised linear double-stranded DNA with an average G + C content of 34.9%, and exhibited low similarity to known phage genomes. Genomic and phylogenetic analysis revealed that vB_BthS-HD29phi is a novel phage. In total, 50 putative ORFs were predicted in the phage genome, and only 18 ORFs encoded proteins with known functions. This article reports the genome sequence of a new tailed phage and increases the known genetic diversity of tailed phages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajuan Fu
- Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, People's Republic of China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100039, People's Republic of China
| | - Sangsang Deng
- Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, People's Republic of China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100039, People's Republic of China
| | - Leiqin Liang
- Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, People's Republic of China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100039, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Wu
- Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, People's Republic of China
| | - Meiying Gao
- Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, People's Republic of China.
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Fornelos N, Browning DF, Pavlin A, Podlesek Z, Hodnik V, Salas M, Butala M. Lytic gene expression in the temperate bacteriophage GIL01 is activated by a phage-encoded LexA homologue. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 46:9432-9443. [PMID: 30053203 PMCID: PMC6182141 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2018] [Accepted: 07/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The GIL01 bacteriophage is a temperate phage that infects the insect pathogen Bacillus thuringiensis. During the lytic cycle, phage gene transcription is initiated from three promoters: P1 and P2, which control the expression of the early phage genes involved in genome replication and P3, which controls the expression of the late genes responsible for virion maturation and host lysis. Unlike most temperate phages, GIL01 lysogeny is not maintained by a dedicated phage repressor but rather by the host's regulator of the SOS response, LexA. Previously we showed that the lytic cycle was induced by DNA damage and that LexA, in conjunction with phage-encoded protein gp7, repressed P1. Here we examine the lytic/lysogenic switch in more detail and show that P3 is also repressed by a LexA-gp7 complex, binding to tandem LexA boxes within the promoter. We also demonstrate that expression from P3 is considerably delayed after DNA damage, requiring the phage-encoded DNA binding protein, gp6. Surprisingly, gp6 is homologous to LexA itself and, thus, is a rare example of a LexA homologue directly activating transcription. We propose that the interplay between these two LexA family members, with opposing functions, ensures the timely expression of GIL01 phage late genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Fornelos
- Instituto de Biología Molecular 'Eladio Viñuela' (CSIC), Centro de Biología Molecular 'Severo Ochoa' (CSIC-Universidad Autónoma de Madrid), Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Douglas F Browning
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Anja Pavlin
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Zdravko Podlesek
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Vesna Hodnik
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Margarita Salas
- Instituto de Biología Molecular 'Eladio Viñuela' (CSIC), Centro de Biología Molecular 'Severo Ochoa' (CSIC-Universidad Autónoma de Madrid), Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Matej Butala
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Hock L, Leprince A, Tournay M, Gillis A, Mahillon J. Biocontrol potential of phage Deep-Blue against psychrotolerant Bacillus weihenstephanensis. Food Control 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2019.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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Piligrimova EG, Kazantseva OA, Nikulin NA, Shadrin AM. Bacillus Phage vB_BtS_B83 Previously Designated as a Plasmid May Represent a New Siphoviridae Genus. Viruses 2019; 11:v11070624. [PMID: 31284652 PMCID: PMC6669507 DOI: 10.3390/v11070624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2019] [Revised: 06/28/2019] [Accepted: 07/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The Bacillus cereus group of bacteria includes, inter alia, the species known to be associated with human diseases and food poisoning. Here, we describe the Bacillus phage vB_BtS_B83 (abbreviated as B83) infecting the species of this group. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) micrographs indicate that B83 belongs to the Siphoviridae family. B83 is a temperate phage using an arbitrium system for the regulation of the lysis–lysogeny switch, and is probably capable of forming a circular plasmid prophage. Comparative analysis shows that it has been previously sequenced, but was mistaken for a plasmid. B83 shares common genome organization and >46% of proteins with other the Bacillus phage, BMBtp14. Phylograms constructed using large terminase subunits and a pan-genome presence–absence matrix show that these phages form a clade distinct from the closest viruses. Based on the above, we propose the creation of a new genus named Bembunaquatrovirus that includes B83 and BMBtp14.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma G Piligrimova
- Laboratory of Bacteriophage Biology, Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, RAS, 142290 Pushchino, Russia.
- Department of Microbiology, Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education "Vyatka State University", 610000 Kirov, Russia.
| | - Olesya A Kazantseva
- Laboratory of Bacteriophage Biology, Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, RAS, 142290 Pushchino, Russia
| | - Nikita A Nikulin
- Laboratory of Bacteriophage Biology, Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, RAS, 142290 Pushchino, Russia
- Department of Microbiology, Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education "Vyatka State University", 610000 Kirov, Russia
| | - Andrey M Shadrin
- Laboratory of Bacteriophage Biology, Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, RAS, 142290 Pushchino, Russia.
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Understanding and Exploiting Phage-Host Interactions. Viruses 2019; 11:v11060567. [PMID: 31216787 PMCID: PMC6630733 DOI: 10.3390/v11060567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2019] [Revised: 06/07/2019] [Accepted: 06/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Initially described a century ago by William Twort and Felix d’Herelle, bacteriophages are bacterial viruses found ubiquitously in nature, located wherever their host cells are present. Translated literally, bacteriophage (phage) means ‘bacteria eater’. Phages interact and infect specific bacteria while not affecting other bacteria or cell lines of other organisms. Due to the specificity of these phage–host interactions, the relationship between phages and their host cells has been the topic of much research. The advances in phage biology research have led to the exploitation of these phage–host interactions and the application of phages in the agricultural and food industry. Phages may provide an alternative to the use of antibiotics, as it is well known that the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections has become an epidemic in clinical settings. In agriculture, pre-harvest and/or post-harvest application of phages to crops may prevent the colonisation of bacteria that are detrimental to plant or human health. In addition, the abundance of data generated from genome sequencing has allowed the development of phage-derived bacterial detection systems of foodborne pathogens. This review aims to outline the specific interactions between phages and their host and how these interactions may be exploited and applied in the food industry.
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Nordmann B, Schilling T, Hoppert M, Hertel R. Complete genome sequence of the virus isolate vB_BthM-Goe5 infecting Bacillus thuringiensis. Arch Virol 2019; 164:1485-1488. [PMID: 30848388 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-019-04187-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2018] [Accepted: 01/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is non-pathogenic for humans and serves as a biological control agent in agriculture. Understanding its phages will help to prevent industrial production loss of Bt products and will lead to a better understanding of phages in general. The complete genome of the new B. thuringiensis phage isolate vB_BthM-Goe5 (Goe5) was sequenced, revealing a linear 157,804-bp-long dsDNA chromosome flanked by 2579-bp-long terminal repeats. It contains two tRNAs and 272 protein coding regions, 69 of which could be assigned with an annotation. Morphological investigation, using transmission electron microscopy, revealed Myoviridae morphology. The formation of a double baseplate upon tail sheath contraction indicates a link to the group of SPO1-related phages. Comparative genomics with all Bacillus-related viral genomes available in the NCBI genome database during this investigation indicated that Goe5 was a unique isolate, with Bacillus phage Bastille as its closest relative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Birthe Nordmann
- Department of Genomic and Applied Microbiology & Göttingen Genomics Laboratory, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Tobias Schilling
- Department of Genomic and Applied Microbiology & Göttingen Genomics Laboratory, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Michael Hoppert
- Department of General Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Robert Hertel
- Department of Genomic and Applied Microbiology & Göttingen Genomics Laboratory, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
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Fu Y, Wu Y, Yuan Y, Gao M. Prevalence and Diversity Analysis of Candidate Prophages to Provide An Understanding on Their Roles in Bacillus Thuringiensis. Viruses 2019; 11:v11040388. [PMID: 31027262 PMCID: PMC6521274 DOI: 10.3390/v11040388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2019] [Revised: 04/04/2019] [Accepted: 04/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is widely used in producing biological insecticides. Phage contaminations during Bt fermentation can cause severe losses of yields. Lots of strategies have been engaged to control extrinsic phage contamination during Bt fermentation, but their effectiveness is low. In this study, the candidate endogenous prophages (prophages) in 61 Bt chromosomes that had been deposited in GenBank database were analyzed. The results revealed that all chromosomes contained prophage regions, and 398 candidate prophage regions were predicted, including 135 putative complete prophages and 263 incomplete prophage regions. These putative complete prophages showed highly diverse genetic backgrounds. The inducibility of the prophages of ten Bt strains (4AJ1, 4BD1, HD-1, HD-29, HD-73, HD-521, BMB171, 4CC1, CT-43, and HD-1011) was tested, and the results showed that seven of the ten strains’ prophages were inducible. These induced phages belonged to the Siphoviridae family and exhibited a broad host spectrum against the non-original strains. The culture supernatants of the two strains (BMB171, 4CC1) could lyse Bt cells, but no virions were observed, which was speculated to be caused by lysin. The functional analysis of the putative complete prophage proteins indicated that some proteins, such as antibiotic resistance-associated proteins and restriction endonucleases, might increase the fitness of the Bt strains to different environments. The findings of this study provided understanding on the high prevalence and diversity of Bt prophages, as well as pointed out the role of prophages in the life cycle of Bt.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajuan Fu
- Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China.
| | - Yan Wu
- Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China.
| | - Yihui Yuan
- Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China.
- Present address: State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou 571158, China.
| | - Meiying Gao
- Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China.
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The PlyB Endolysin of Bacteriophage vB_BanS_Bcp1 Exhibits Broad-Spectrum Bactericidal Activity against Bacillus cereus Sensu Lato Isolates. Appl Environ Microbiol 2019; 85:AEM.00003-19. [PMID: 30850428 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00003-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Lytic bacteriophages (or phages) drive bacterial mortality by elaborating exquisite abilities to bind, breach, and destroy bacterial cell membranes and subjugate critical bacterial cell functions. These antimicrobial activities make phages ideal candidates to serve as, or provide sources of, biological control measures for bacterial pathogens. In this study, we isolated the Myoviridae phage vB_BanS_Bcp1 (here referred to as Bcp1) from landfill soil, using a Bacillus anthracis host. The antimicrobial activities of both Bcp1 and its encoded endolysin, PlyB, were examined across different B. cereus sensu lato group species, including B. cereus sensu stricto, Bacillus thuringiensis, and Bacillus anthracis, with pathogenic potential in humans and multiple different uses in biotechnological applications. The Bcp1 phage infected only a subset (11 to 66%) of each B. cereus sensu lato species group tested. In contrast, functional analysis of purified PlyB revealed a potent bacteriolytic activity against all B. cereus sensu lato isolates tested (n = 79). PlyB was, furthermore, active across broad temperature, pH, and salt ranges, refractory to the development of resistance, bactericidal as a single agent, and synergistic with a second endolysin, PlyG. To confirm the potential for PlyB as an antimicrobial agent, we demonstrated the efficacy of a single intravenous treatment with PlyB alone or combination with PlyG in a murine model of lethal B. anthracis infection. Overall, our findings show exciting potential for the Bcp1 bacteriophage and the PlyB endolysin as potential new additions to the antimicrobial armamentarium.IMPORTANCE Organisms of the Bacillus cereus sensu lato lineage are ubiquitous in the environment and are responsible for toxin-mediated infections ranging from severe food poisoning (B. cereus sensu stricto) to anthrax (Bacillus anthracis). The increasing incidence of many of these infections, combined with the specter of antibiotic resistance, has created a need for novel antimicrobials with potent activity, including bacteriophages (or phages) and phage-encoded products (i.e., endolysins). In this study, we describe a broadly infective phage, Bcp1, and its encoded endolysin, PlyB, which exhibited a rapidly bacteriolytic effect against all B. cereus sensu lato isolates tested with no evidence of evolving resistance. Importantly, PlyB was highly efficacious in a mouse model of lethal bacteremia with B. anthracis Both the Bcp1 phage and the PlyB endolysin represent novel mechanisms of action compared to antibiotics, with potential applications to address the evolving problem of antimicrobial resistance.
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Liu X, Wang D, Pan C, Feng E, Fan H, Li M, Zhu L, Tong Y, Wang H. Genome sequence of Bacillus anthracis typing phage AP631. Arch Virol 2019; 164:917-921. [PMID: 30666457 PMCID: PMC6394722 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-018-04135-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2018] [Accepted: 12/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
AP631, a virulent bacteriophage of Bacillus anthracis, is widely used in China to identify anthrax bacteria. In this study, we report the complete AP631 phage genome sequence as well as comparative genomic analysis with other bacteriophages of B. cereus and related species. The double-stranded circular DNA genome of phage AP631 was 39,549 bp in length with 35.01% G + C content. The phage genome contained 56 putative protein-coding genes but no rRNA or tRNA genes. Comparative phylogenetic analysis of the phage major capsid proteins and terminase large subunits showed that phage AP631 belongs to the B. cereus sensu lato phage clade II. Comparative genomic analysis revealed a high degree of sequence similarity between phage AP631 and B. anthracis phages Wbeta, Gamma, Cherry, and Fah, as well as three AP631-specific genes bearing no significant similarity to those of other phages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiankai Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, 20 Dongdajie Street, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Dongshu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, 20 Dongdajie Street, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Chao Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, 20 Dongdajie Street, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Erling Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, 20 Dongdajie Street, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Hang Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, 20 Dongdajie Street, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Manli Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, 20 Dongdajie Street, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Li Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, 20 Dongdajie Street, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Yigang Tong
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, 20 Dongdajie Street, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100071, China.
| | - Hengliang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, 20 Dongdajie Street, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100071, China.
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Gillis A, Fayad N, Makart L, Bolotin A, Sorokin A, Kallassy M, Mahillon J. Role of plasmid plasticity and mobile genetic elements in the entomopathogen Bacillus thuringiensis serovar israelensis. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2018; 42:829-856. [PMID: 30203090 PMCID: PMC6199540 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuy034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2018] [Accepted: 09/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacillus thuringiensis is a well-known biopesticide that has been used for more than 80 years. This spore-forming bacterium belongs to the group of Bacillus cereus that also includes, among others, emetic and diarrheic pathotypes of B. cereus, the animal pathogen Bacillus anthracis and the psychrotolerant Bacillus weihenstephanensis. Bacillus thuringiensis is rather unique since it has adapted its lifestyle as an efficient pathogen of specific insect larvae. One of the peculiarities of B. thuringiensis strains is the extent of their extrachromosomal pool, with strains harbouring more than 10 distinct plasmid molecules. Among the numerous serovars of B. thuringiensis, 'israelensis' is certainly emblematic since its host spectrum is apparently restricted to dipteran insects like mosquitoes and black flies, vectors of human and animal diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, or river blindness. In this review, the putative role of the mobile gene pool of B. thuringiensis serovar israelensis in its pathogenicity and dedicated lifestyle is reviewed, with specific emphasis on the nature, diversity, and potential mobility of its constituents. Variations among the few related strains of B. thuringiensis serovar israelensis will also be reported and discussed in the scope of this specialised insect pathogen, whose lifestyle in the environment remains largely unknown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika Gillis
- Laboratory of Food and Environmental Microbiology, Université catholique de Louvain, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Nancy Fayad
- Laboratory of Food and Environmental Microbiology, Université catholique de Louvain, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
- Laboratory of Biodiversity and Functional Genomics (BGF), Faculty of Sciences, Université Saint-Joseph, 1107 2050 Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Lionel Makart
- Laboratory of Food and Environmental Microbiology, Université catholique de Louvain, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Alexander Bolotin
- UMR1319 Micalis Institute, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, F-78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Alexei Sorokin
- UMR1319 Micalis Institute, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, F-78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Mireille Kallassy
- Laboratory of Biodiversity and Functional Genomics (BGF), Faculty of Sciences, Université Saint-Joseph, 1107 2050 Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Jacques Mahillon
- Laboratory of Food and Environmental Microbiology, Université catholique de Louvain, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
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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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Zribi Zghal R, Ghedira K, Elleuch J, Kharrat M, Tounsi S. Genome sequence analysis of a novel Bacillus thuringiensis strain BLB406 active against Aedes aegypti larvae, a novel potential bioinsecticide. Int J Biol Macromol 2018; 116:1153-1162. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2018.05.119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2017] [Revised: 04/13/2018] [Accepted: 05/16/2018] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
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Peng Q, Yuan Y. Characterization of a novel phage infecting the pathogenic multidrug-resistant Bacillus cereus and functional analysis of its endolysin. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2018; 102:7901-7912. [PMID: 30008020 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-018-9219-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2018] [Revised: 06/24/2018] [Accepted: 07/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Bacillus cereus is widely distributed food-borne pathogenic bacterium. Due to the harmness to human hearth and the generation of multidrug-resistant B. cereus, it is urgent to develop novel antimicrobial agents. Phage and phage endolysin were taken as novel antimicrobial substance for their specific lytic activity against pathogenic bacteria. In this study, a Myoviridae family phage, designated as vB_BceM-HSE3, infecting the pathogenic multidrug-resistant B. cereus strain was isolated and characterized along with its endolysin. Phage vB_BceM-HSE3 can specially infect the B. cereus group strains, including B. cereus, B. anthracis, and B. thuringiensis, and exhibits high temperature and pH tolerance, which endow it with high potential for been used in controlling pathogenic B. cereus group strains. Genomic analysis reveals that vB_BceM-HSE3 is a novel phage and only shows extremely low genome similarity with available phage genome. Functional analysis of endolysin PlyHSE3 encoding by vB_BceM-HSE3 shows that PlyHSE3 exhibits broader lytic spectrum than the phage and can lyse all the tested B. cereus group strains as well as the tested pathogenic strain of P. aeruginosa. PlyHSE3 also shows broad temperature and pH tolerance, and can efficiently lyse B. cereus strain at temperature at 4 °C and higher than 45 °C, which indicating that PlyHSE3 might can be used in controlling food-borne B. cereus during both the cold storage of food and the stage after the heat treatment of food. The findings of this study enrich our understanding of phage diversity as well as providing resources for developing phage therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Peng
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Ecology of Tropical Islands, College of Life Sciences, Hainan Normal University, Haikou, 571158, People's Republic of China
| | - Yihui Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China.
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42
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Howard-Varona C, Hargreaves KR, Solonenko NE, Markillie LM, White RA, Brewer HM, Ansong C, Orr G, Adkins JN, Sullivan MB. Multiple mechanisms drive phage infection efficiency in nearly identical hosts. THE ISME JOURNAL 2018; 12:1605-1618. [PMID: 29568113 PMCID: PMC5955906 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-018-0099-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2017] [Revised: 01/08/2018] [Accepted: 02/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Phage-host interactions are critical to ecology, evolution, and biotechnology. Central to those is infection efficiency, which remains poorly understood, particularly in nature. Here we apply genome-wide transcriptomics and proteomics to investigate infection efficiency in nature's own experiment: two nearly identical (genetically and physiologically) Bacteroidetes bacterial strains (host18 and host38) that are genetically intractable, but environmentally important, where phage infection efficiency varies. On host18, specialist phage phi18:3 infects efficiently, whereas generalist phi38:1 infects inefficiently. On host38, only phi38:1 infects, and efficiently. Overall, phi18:3 globally repressed host18's transcriptome and proteome, expressed genes that likely evaded host restriction/modification (R/M) defenses and controlled its metabolism, and synchronized phage transcription with translation. In contrast, phi38:1 failed to repress host18's transcriptome and proteome, did not evade host R/M defenses or express genes for metabolism control, did not synchronize transcripts with proteins and its protein abundances were likely targeted by host proteases. However, on host38, phi38:1 globally repressed host transcriptome and proteome, synchronized phage transcription with translation, and infected host38 efficiently. Together these findings reveal multiple infection inefficiencies. While this contrasts the single mechanisms often revealed in laboratory mutant studies, it likely better reflects the phage-host interaction dynamics that occur in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Lye Meng Markillie
- Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA, USA
| | | | - Heather M Brewer
- Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA, USA
| | | | - Galya Orr
- Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA, USA
| | | | - Matthew B Sullivan
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Geodetic Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
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Hock L, Gillis A, Mahillon J. Complete genome sequence of bacteriophage Deep-Purple, a novel member of the family Siphoviridae infecting Bacillus cereus. Arch Virol 2018; 163:2555-2559. [PMID: 29752557 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-018-3865-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2017] [Accepted: 03/18/2018] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
Bacteriophage Deep-Purple, isolated from an agricultural soil in Belgium, lyses the emetic Bacillus weihenstephanensis strain LH002 and exhibits a lytic activity against 55% of emetic Bacillus cereus and B. weihenstephanensis strains. Deep-Purple is able to complete its lytic cycle within 45 min and is stable to a large range of pHs and temperatures below 60 °C. It possesses an icosahedral head of about 63 nm in diameter and a non-contractile tail of approximately 165 nm in length. The genome of this newly classifiable Siphoviridae family member is 36,278 bp long, with a G+C content of 38.36% and 40 putative CDSs. Most CDSs do not display similarity with other B. cereus group phages supporting the idea that Deep-Purple belongs to a new and currently uncharacterised Siphoviridae subfamily.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Hock
- Laboratory of Food and Environmental Microbiology, Earth and Life Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Annika Gillis
- Laboratory of Food and Environmental Microbiology, Earth and Life Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Jacques Mahillon
- Laboratory of Food and Environmental Microbiology, Earth and Life Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
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Huber I, Potapova K, Kuhn A, Schmidt H, Hinrichs J, Rohde C, Beyer W. 1st German Phage Symposium-Conference Report. Viruses 2018; 10:v10040158. [PMID: 29596346 PMCID: PMC5923452 DOI: 10.3390/v10040158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2018] [Revised: 03/23/2018] [Accepted: 03/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In Germany, phage research and application can be traced back to the beginning of the 20th century. However, with the triumphal march of antibiotics around the world, the significance of bacteriophages faded in most countries, and respective research mainly focused on fundamental questions and niche applications. After a century, we pay tribute to the overuse of antibiotics that led to multidrug resistance and calls for new strategies to combat pathogenic microbes. Against this background, bacteriophages came into the spotlight of researchers and practitioners again resulting in a fast growing “phage community”. In October 2017, part of this community met at the 1st German Phage Symposium to share their knowledge and experiences. The participants discussed open questions and challenges related to phage therapy and the application of phages in general. This report summarizes the presentations given, highlights the main points of the round table discussion and concludes with an outlook for the different aspects of phage application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Huber
- Hohenheim Research Center for Health Sciences, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany.
| | - Katerina Potapova
- Hohenheim Research Center for Health Sciences, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany.
| | - Andreas Kuhn
- Hohenheim Research Center for Health Sciences, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany.
- Institute of Microbiology, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany.
| | - Herbert Schmidt
- Hohenheim Research Center for Health Sciences, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany.
- Institute of Food Science and Biotechnology, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany.
| | - Jörg Hinrichs
- Hohenheim Research Center for Health Sciences, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany.
- Institute of Food Science and Biotechnology, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany.
| | - Christine Rohde
- Leibniz-Institute DSMZ—German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany.
| | - Wolfgang Beyer
- Hohenheim Research Center for Health Sciences, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany.
- Institute of Animal Sciences, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany.
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45
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Extending the hosts of Tectiviridae into four additional genera of Gram-positive bacteria and more diverse Bacillus species. Virology 2018; 518:136-142. [PMID: 29481984 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2018.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2017] [Revised: 02/14/2018] [Accepted: 02/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Tectiviridae are composed of tailless bacteriophages with an icosahedral capsid and an inner membrane enclosing a double-stranded 15 kb linear DNA genome. Five of the seven previously studied Tectivirus isolates infect bacteria from Bacillus cereus sensu lato group (Betatectivirus), one distantly related member (PRD1) infect Enterobactericeae (Alpatectivirus) and one recently discovered virus infect Gluconobacter cerinus (Gammatectivirus). Here we expand the host spectrum of Betatectivirus elements to four additional genera (Streptococcus, Exiguobacterium, Clostridium and Brevibacillus) and to more distantly related Bacillus species (B. pumilus and B. flexus) by studying the genomes of fourteen novel tectiviral elements. Overall, the genomes show significant conservation in gene synteny and in modules responsible for genome replication and formation of the virion core (including DNA packaging). Notable variation exists in regions encoding host attachment and lysis along with the surrounding area of a site in which mutations are known to alter phage life cycle.
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46
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Ramírez-Vargas G, Goh S, Rodríguez C. The Novel Phages phiCD5763 and phiCD2955 Represent Two Groups of Big Plasmidial Siphoviridae Phages of Clostridium difficile. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:26. [PMID: 29403466 PMCID: PMC5786514 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2017] [Accepted: 01/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Until recently, Clostridium difficile phages were limited to Myoviruses and Siphoviruses of medium genome length (32–57 kb). Here we report the finding of phiCD5763, a Siphovirus with a large extrachromosomal circular genome (132.5 kb, 172 ORFs) and a large capsid (205.6 ± 25.6 nm in diameter) infecting MLST Clade 1 strains of C. difficile. Two subgroups of big phage genomes similar to phiCD5763 were identified in 32 NAPCR1/RT012/ST-54 C. difficile isolates from Costa Rica and in whole genome sequences (WGS) of 41 C. difficile isolates of Clades 1, 2, 3, and 4 from Canada, USA, UK, Belgium, Iraq, and China. Through comparative genomics we discovered another putative big phage genome in a non-NAPCR1 isolate from Costa Rica, phiCD2955, which represents other big phage genomes found in 130 WGS of MLST Clade 1 and 2 isolates from Canada, USA, Hungary, France, Austria, and UK. phiCD2955 (131.6 kb, 172 ORFs) is related to a previously reported C. difficile phage genome, phiCD211/phiCDIF1296T. Detailed genome analyses of phiCD5763, phiCD2955, phiCD211/phiCDIF1296T, and seven other putative C. difficile big phage genome sequences of 131–136 kb reconstructed from publicly available WGS revealed a modular gene organization and high levels of sequence heterogeneity at several hotspots, suggesting that these genomes correspond to biological entities undergoing recombination. Compared to other C. difficile phages, these big phages have unique predicted terminase, capsid, portal, neck and tail proteins, receptor binding proteins (RBPs), recombinases, resolvases, primases, helicases, ligases, and hypothetical proteins. Moreover, their predicted gene load suggests a complex regulation of both phage and host functions. Overall, our results indicate that the prevalence of C. difficile big bacteriophages is more widespread than realized and open new avenues of research aiming to decipher how these viral elements influence the biology of this emerging pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Ramírez-Vargas
- Facultad de Microbiología and Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Shan Goh
- Pathobiology and Population Studies, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, United Kingdom
| | - César Rodríguez
- Facultad de Microbiología and Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
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47
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Complete Genome Sequences of Three Bacillus anthracis Bacteriophages. GENOME ANNOUNCEMENTS 2018; 6:6/1/e01164-17. [PMID: 29301897 PMCID: PMC5754477 DOI: 10.1128/genomea.01164-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The new highly effective Bacillus anthracis phages Negev_SA, Carmel_SA, and Tavor_SA were isolated from soil samples, and their complete genomes were sequenced and analyzed. The isolated phages have potential use in future phage therapy treatment against anthrax.
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48
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García-Pérez AN, de Jong A, Junker S, Becher D, Chlebowicz MA, Duipmans JC, Jonkman MF, van Dijl JM. From the wound to the bench: exoproteome interplay between wound-colonizing Staphylococcus aureus strains and co-existing bacteria. Virulence 2018; 9:363-378. [PMID: 29233035 PMCID: PMC5955179 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2017.1395129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2017] [Revised: 10/09/2017] [Accepted: 10/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Wound-colonizing microorganisms can form complex and dynamic polymicrobial communities where pathogens and commensals may co-exist, cooperate or compete with each other. The present study was aimed at identifying possible interactions between different bacteria isolated from the same chronic wound of a patient with the genetic blistering disease epidermolysis bullosa (EB). Specifically, this involved two different isolates of the human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus, and isolates of Bacillus thuringiensis and Klebsiella oxytoca. Particular focus was attributed to interactions of S. aureus with the two other species, because of the high staphylococcal prevalence among chronic wounds. Intriguingly, upon co-cultivation, none of the wound isolates inhibited each other's growth. Since the extracellular proteome of bacterial pathogens is a reservoir of virulence factors, the exoproteomes of the staphylococcal isolates in monoculture and co-culture with B. thuringiensis and K. oxytoca were characterized by Mass Spectrometry to explore the inherent relationships between these co-exisiting bacteria. This revealed a massive reduction in the number of staphylococcal exoproteins upon co-culturing with K. oxytoca or B. thuringiensis. Interestingly, this decrease was particularly evident for extracellular proteins with a predicted cytoplasmic localization, which were recently implicated in staphylococcal virulence and epidemiology. Furthermore, our exoproteome analysis uncovered potential cooperativity between the two different S. aureus isolates. Altogether, the observed exoproteome variations upon co-culturing are indicative of unprecedented adaptive mechanisms that set limits to the production of secreted staphylococcal virulence factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea N. García-Pérez
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Anne de Jong
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, AG Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Sabryna Junker
- Institute for Microbiology, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt Universität Greifswald, Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Str. 15, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Dörte Becher
- Institute for Microbiology, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt Universität Greifswald, Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Str. 15, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Monika A. Chlebowicz
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - José C. Duipmans
- Department of Dermatology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, RB Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Marcel F. Jonkman
- Department of Dermatology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, RB Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Jan Maarten van Dijl
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, Groningen, the Netherlands
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Bam35 Tectivirus Intraviral Interaction Map Unveils New Function and Localization of Phage ORFan Proteins. J Virol 2017; 91:JVI.00870-17. [PMID: 28747494 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00870-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2017] [Accepted: 07/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The family Tectiviridae comprises a group of tailless, icosahedral, membrane-containing bacteriophages that can be divided into two groups by their hosts, either Gram-negative or Gram-positive bacteria. While the first group is composed of PRD1 and nearly identical well-characterized lytic viruses, the second one includes more variable temperate phages, like GIL16 or Bam35, whose hosts are Bacillus cereus and related Gram-positive bacteria. In the genome of Bam35, nearly half of the 32 annotated open reading frames (ORFs) have no homologs in databases (ORFans), being putative proteins of unknown function, which hinders the understanding of their biology. With the aim of increasing knowledge about the viral proteome, we carried out a comprehensive yeast two-hybrid analysis of all the putative proteins encoded by the Bam35 genome. The resulting protein interactome comprised 76 unique interactions among 24 proteins, of which 12 have an unknown function. These results suggest that the P17 protein is the minor capsid protein of Bam35 and P24 is the penton protein, with the latter finding also being supported by iterative threading protein modeling. Moreover, the inner membrane transglycosylase protein P26 could have an additional structural role. We also detected interactions involving nonstructural proteins, such as the DNA-binding protein P1 and the genome terminal protein (P4), which was confirmed by coimmunoprecipitation of recombinant proteins. Altogether, our results provide a functional view of the Bam35 viral proteome, with a focus on the composition and organization of the viral particle.IMPORTANCE Tailless viruses of the family Tectiviridae can infect commensal and pathogenic Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Moreover, they have been proposed to be at the evolutionary origin of several groups of large eukaryotic DNA viruses and self-replicating plasmids. However, due to their ancient origin and complex diversity, many tectiviral proteins are ORFans of unknown function. Comprehensive protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis of viral proteins can eventually disclose biological mechanisms and thus provide new insights into protein function unattainable by studying proteins one by one. Here we comprehensively describe intraviral PPIs among tectivirus Bam35 proteins determined using multivector yeast two-hybrid screening, and these PPIs were further supported by the results of coimmunoprecipitation assays and protein structural models. This approach allowed us to propose new functions for known proteins and hypothesize about the biological role of the localization of some viral ORFan proteins within the viral particle that will be helpful for understanding the biology of tectiviruses infecting Gram-positive bacteria.
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50
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Geng P, Tian S, Yuan Z, Hu X. Identification and genomic comparison of temperate bacteriophages derived from emetic Bacillus cereus. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0184572. [PMID: 28886124 PMCID: PMC5590980 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0184572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2017] [Accepted: 08/25/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Cereulide-producing Bacillus cereus isolates can cause serious emetic (vomiting) syndrome and even acute lethality. As mobile genetic elements, the exploration of prophages derived from emetic B. cereus isolates will help in our understanding of the genetic diversity and evolution of these pathogens. In this study, five temperate phages derived from cereulide-producing B. cereus strains were induced, with four of them undergoing genomic sequencing. Sequencing revealed that they all belong to the Siphoviridae family, but presented in different forms in their hosts. PfNC7401 and PfIS075 have typical icosahedral heads, probably existing alone as phagemids in the host with self-replicating capability in the lysogenic state. PfEFR-4, PfEFR-5, and PfATCC7953 have elongated heads, with the genomes of the former two identified as linear dsDNA, which could be integrated into the host genome during the lysogenic state. Genomic comparison of the four phages with others also derived from emetic B. cereus isolates showed similar genome structures and core genes, thus displaying host spectrum specificity. In addition, phylogenic analysis based on the complete genome and conserved tail fiber proteins of 36 Bacillus species-derived phages confirmed that the phages derived from emetic B. cereus strains were highly similar. Furthermore, one endolysin LysPfEFR-4 was cloned and showed lytic activity against all tested emetic B. cereus strains and cross-lytic activity against some other pathogenic bacteria, implying a potential to control bacterial contamination in the food supply.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peiling Geng
- Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shen Tian
- Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhiming Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- * E-mail: (XH); (ZY)
| | - Xiaomin Hu
- Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- * E-mail: (XH); (ZY)
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