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Yang Y, Shao Q, Guo M, Han L, Zhao X, Wang A, Li X, Wang B, Pan JA, Chen Z, Fokine A, Sun L, Fang Q. Capsid structure of bacteriophage ΦKZ provides insights into assembly and stabilization of jumbo phages. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6551. [PMID: 39095371 PMCID: PMC11297242 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50811-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Jumbo phages are a group of tailed bacteriophages with large genomes and capsids. As a prototype of jumbo phage, ΦKZ infects Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a multi-drug-resistant (MDR) opportunistic pathogen leading to acute or chronic infection in immunocompromised individuals. It holds potential to be used as an antimicrobial agent and as a model for uncovering basic phage biology. Although previous low-resolution structural studies have indicated that jumbo phages may have more complicated capsid structures than smaller phages such as HK97, the detailed structures and the assembly mechanism of their capsids remain largely unknown. Here, we report a 3.5-Å-resolution cryo-EM structure of the ΦKZ capsid. The structure unveiled ten minor capsid proteins, with some decorating the outer surface of the capsid and the others forming a complex network attached to the capsid's inner surface. This network seems to play roles in driving capsid assembly and capsid stabilization. Similar mechanisms of capsid assembly and stabilization are probably employed by many other jumbo viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yashan Yang
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbes and Biosafety, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Qianqian Shao
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbes and Biosafety, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Mingcheng Guo
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbes and Biosafety, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Lin Han
- Shanghai Fifth People's Hospital, Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinyue Zhao
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbes and Biosafety, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Aohan Wang
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbes and Biosafety, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiangyun Li
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbes and Biosafety, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Bo Wang
- The Center for Infection and Immunity Study and Molecular Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Ji-An Pan
- The Center for Infection and Immunity Study and Molecular Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhenguo Chen
- Shanghai Fifth People's Hospital, Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Andrei Fokine
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Lei Sun
- Shanghai Fifth People's Hospital, Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Qianglin Fang
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbes and Biosafety, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
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2
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Kozlova AP, Muntyan VS, Vladimirova ME, Saksaganskaia AS, Kabilov MR, Gorbunova MK, Gorshkov AN, Grudinin MP, Simarov BV, Roumiantseva ML. Soil Giant Phage: Genome and Biological Characteristics of Sinorhizobium Jumbo Phage. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7388. [PMID: 39000497 PMCID: PMC11242549 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25137388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2024] [Revised: 06/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
This paper presents the first in-depth research on the biological and genomic properties of lytic rhizobiophage AP-J-162 isolated from the soils of the mountainous region of Dagestan (North Caucasus), which belongs to the centers of origin of cultivated plants, according to Vavilov N.I. The rhizobiophage host strains are nitrogen-fixing bacteria of the genus Sinorhizobium spp., symbionts of leguminous forage grasses. The phage particles have a myovirus virion structure. The genome of rhizobiophage AP-J-162 is double-stranded DNA of 471.5 kb in length; 711 ORFs are annotated and 41 types of tRNAs are detected. The closest phylogenetic relative of phage AP-J-162 is Agrobacterium phage Atu-ph07, but no rhizobiophages are known. The replicative machinery, capsid, and baseplate proteins of phage AP-J-162 are structurally similar to those of Escherichia phage T4, but there is no similarity between their tail protein subunits. Amino acid sequence analysis shows that 339 of the ORFs encode hypothetical or functionally relevant products, while the remaining 304 ORFs are unique. Additionally, 153 ORFs are similar to those of Atu_ph07, with one-third of the ORFs encoding different enzymes. The biological properties and genomic characteristics of phage AP-J-162 distinguish it as a unique model for exploring phage-microbe interactions with nitrogen-fixing symbiotic microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra P Kozlova
- Laboratory of Genetics and Selection of Microorganisms, Federal State Budget Scientific Institution All-Russia Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology (FSBSI ARRIAM), 196608 Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Victoria S Muntyan
- Laboratory of Genetics and Selection of Microorganisms, Federal State Budget Scientific Institution All-Russia Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology (FSBSI ARRIAM), 196608 Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Maria E Vladimirova
- Laboratory of Genetics and Selection of Microorganisms, Federal State Budget Scientific Institution All-Russia Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology (FSBSI ARRIAM), 196608 Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Alla S Saksaganskaia
- Laboratory of Genetics and Selection of Microorganisms, Federal State Budget Scientific Institution All-Russia Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology (FSBSI ARRIAM), 196608 Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Marsel R Kabilov
- SB RAS Genomics Core Facility, Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Maria K Gorbunova
- Laboratory of Genetics and Selection of Microorganisms, Federal State Budget Scientific Institution All-Russia Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology (FSBSI ARRIAM), 196608 Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Andrey N Gorshkov
- Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 197376 Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Mikhail P Grudinin
- Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 197376 Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Boris V Simarov
- Laboratory of Genetics and Selection of Microorganisms, Federal State Budget Scientific Institution All-Russia Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology (FSBSI ARRIAM), 196608 Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Marina L Roumiantseva
- Laboratory of Genetics and Selection of Microorganisms, Federal State Budget Scientific Institution All-Russia Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology (FSBSI ARRIAM), 196608 Saint Petersburg, Russia
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Tarakanov RI, Evseev PV, Vo HTN, Troshin KS, Gutnik DI, Ignatov AN, Toshchakov SV, Miroshnikov KA, Jafarov IH, Dzhalilov FSU. Xanthomonas Phage PBR31: Classifying the Unclassifiable. Viruses 2024; 16:406. [PMID: 38543771 PMCID: PMC10975493 DOI: 10.3390/v16030406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 02/24/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The ability of bacteriophages to destroy bacteria has made them the subject of extensive research. Interest in bacteriophages has recently increased due to the spread of drug-resistant bacteria, although genomic research has not kept pace with the growth of genomic data. Genomic analysis and, especially, the taxonomic description of bacteriophages are often difficult due to the peculiarities of the evolution of bacteriophages, which often includes the horizontal transfer of genes and genomic modules. The latter is particularly pronounced for temperate bacteriophages, which are capable of integration into the bacterial chromosome. Xanthomonas phage PBR31 is a temperate bacteriophage, which has been neither described nor classified previously, that infects the plant pathogen Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris. Genomic analysis, including phylogenetic studies, indicated the separation of phage PBR31 from known classified bacteriophages, as well as its distant relationship with other temperate bacteriophages, including the Lederbervirus group. Bioinformatic analysis of proteins revealed distinctive features of PBR31, including the presence of a protein similar to the small subunit of D-family DNA polymerase and advanced lysis machinery. Taxonomic analysis showed the possibility of assigning phage PBR31 to a new taxon, although the complete taxonomic description of Xanthomonas phage PBR31 and other related bacteriophages is complicated by the complex evolutionary history of the formation of its genome. The general biological features of the PBR31 phage were analysed for the first time. Due to its presumably temperate lifestyle, there is doubt as to whether the PBR31 phage is appropriate for phage control purposes. Bioinformatics analysis, however, revealed the presence of cell wall-degrading enzymes that can be utilised for the treatment of bacterial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rashit I. Tarakanov
- Department of Plant Protection, Russian State Agrarian University-Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy, Timiryazevskaya Str. 49, 127434 Moscow, Russia; (R.I.T.); (K.S.T.)
| | - Peter V. Evseev
- Department of Plant Protection, Russian State Agrarian University-Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy, Timiryazevskaya Str. 49, 127434 Moscow, Russia; (R.I.T.); (K.S.T.)
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya Str., 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Ostrovityanova 1, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Ha T. N. Vo
- Faculty of Agronomy, Nong Lam University, Quarter 6, Thu Duc District, Ho Chi Minh City 721400, Vietnam
| | - Konstantin S. Troshin
- Department of Plant Protection, Russian State Agrarian University-Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy, Timiryazevskaya Str. 49, 127434 Moscow, Russia; (R.I.T.); (K.S.T.)
| | - Daria I. Gutnik
- Limnological Institute, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 664033 Irkutsk, Russia;
| | - Aleksandr N. Ignatov
- Agrobiotechnology Department, Agrarian and Technological Institute, RUDN University, Miklukho-Maklaya Str. 6, 117198 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Stepan V. Toshchakov
- Center for Genome Research, National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute”, Kurchatov Sq., 1, 123098 Moscow, Russia
| | - Konstantin A. Miroshnikov
- Department of Plant Protection, Russian State Agrarian University-Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy, Timiryazevskaya Str. 49, 127434 Moscow, Russia; (R.I.T.); (K.S.T.)
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya Str., 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Ibrahim H. Jafarov
- Azerbaijan Scientific Research Institute for Plant Protection and Industrial Crops, AZ 4200 Ganja, Azerbaijan
| | - Fevzi S.-U. Dzhalilov
- Department of Plant Protection, Russian State Agrarian University-Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy, Timiryazevskaya Str. 49, 127434 Moscow, Russia; (R.I.T.); (K.S.T.)
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Paietta EN, Kraberger S, Custer JM, Vargas KL, Espy C, Ehmke E, Yoder AD, Varsani A. Characterization of Diverse Anelloviruses, Cressdnaviruses, and Bacteriophages in the Human Oral DNA Virome from North Carolina (USA). Viruses 2023; 15:1821. [PMID: 37766228 PMCID: PMC10537320 DOI: 10.3390/v15091821] [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: 07/08/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The diversity of viruses identified from the various niches of the human oral cavity-from saliva to dental plaques to the surface of the tongue-has accelerated in the age of metagenomics. This rapid expansion demonstrates that our understanding of oral viral diversity is incomplete, with only a few studies utilizing passive drool collection in conjunction with metagenomic sequencing methods. For this pilot study, we obtained 14 samples from healthy staff members working at the Duke Lemur Center (Durham, NC, USA) to determine the viral diversity that can be identified in passive drool samples from humans. The complete genomes of 3 anelloviruses, 9 cressdnaviruses, 4 Caudoviricetes large bacteriophages, 29 microviruses, and 19 inoviruses were identified in this study using high-throughput sequencing and viral metagenomic workflows. The results presented here expand our understanding of the vertebrate-infecting and microbe-infecting viral diversity of the human oral virome in North Carolina (USA).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Simona Kraberger
- The Biodesign Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, Center for Evolution and Medicine and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Joy M. Custer
- The Biodesign Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, Center for Evolution and Medicine and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Karla L. Vargas
- The Biodesign Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, Center for Evolution and Medicine and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Claudia Espy
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Erin Ehmke
- Duke Lemur Center, Duke University, Durham, NC 27705, USA;
| | - Anne D. Yoder
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Arvind Varsani
- The Biodesign Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, Center for Evolution and Medicine and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
- Structural Biology Research Unit, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
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5
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Cisneros-Martínez AM, Eguiarte LE, Souza V. Metagenomic comparisons reveal a highly diverse and unique viral community in a seasonally fluctuating hypersaline microbial mat. Microb Genom 2023; 9:mgen001063. [PMID: 37459167 PMCID: PMC10438804 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.001063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
In spring 2016, a shallow hypersaline pond (50×25 m) was found in the Cuatro Cienegas Basin (CCB). This pond, known as Archaean Domes (AD) because of its elastic microbial mats that form dome-shaped structures due to the production of reducing gases reminiscent of the Archaean eon, such as methane and hydrogen sulfide, harbour a highly diverse microbial community, rich in halophilic and methanogenic archaea. AD is a seasonally fluctuating hypersaline site, with salinity ranging from low hypersaline (5.3%) during the wet season to high hypersaline (saturation) during the dry season. To characterize the viral community and to test whether it resembles those of other hypersaline sites (whose diversity is conditioned by salinity), or if it is similar to other CCB sites (with which it shares a common geological history), we generated 12 metagenomes from different seasons and depths over a 4 year period and compared them to 35 metagenomes from varied environments. Haloarchaeaviruses were detected, but were never dominant (average of 15.37 % of the total viral species), and the viral community structure and diversity were not affected by environmental fluctuations. In fact, unlike other viral communities at hypersaline sites, AD remained more diverse than other environments regardless of season. β-Diversity analyses show that AD is closely related to other CCB sites, although it has a unique viral community that forms a cluster of its own. The similarity of two surface samples to the 30 and 50 cm depth samples, as well as the observed increase in diversity at greater depths, supports the hypothesis that the diversity of CCB has evolved as a result of a long time environmental stability of a deep aquifer that functions as a 'seed bank' of great microbial diversity that is transported to the surface by sporadic groundwater upwelling events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Miguel Cisneros-Martínez
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
- Doctorado en Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Luis E. Eguiarte
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Valeria Souza
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
- Centro de Estudios del Cuaternario de Fuego-Patagonia y Antártica (CEQUA), Punta Arenas, Chile
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6
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Podgorski JM, Freeman K, Gosselin S, Huet A, Conway JF, Bird M, Grecco J, Patel S, Jacobs-Sera D, Hatfull G, Gogarten JP, Ravantti J, White SJ. A structural dendrogram of the actinobacteriophage major capsid proteins provides important structural insights into the evolution of capsid stability. Structure 2023; 31:282-294.e5. [PMID: 36649709 PMCID: PMC10071307 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2022.12.012] [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: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Many double-stranded DNA viruses, including tailed bacteriophages (phages) and herpesviruses, use the HK97-fold in their major capsid protein to make the capsomers of the icosahedral viral capsid. After the genome packaging at near-crystalline densities, the capsid is subjected to a major expansion and stabilization step that allows it to withstand environmental stresses and internal high pressure. Several different mechanisms for stabilizing the capsid have been structurally characterized, but how these mechanisms have evolved is still not understood. Using cryo-EM structure determination of 10 capsids, structural comparisons, phylogenetic analyses, and Alphafold predictions, we have constructed a detailed structural dendrogram describing the evolution of capsid structural stability within the actinobacteriophages. We show that the actinobacteriophage major capsid proteins can be classified into 15 groups based upon their HK97-fold.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer M Podgorski
- Biology/Physics Building, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, 91 North Eagleville Road, Unit-3125, Storrs, CT 06269-3125, USA
| | - Krista Freeman
- Clapp Hall, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, 4249 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Sophia Gosselin
- Biology/Physics Building, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, 91 North Eagleville Road, Unit-3125, Storrs, CT 06269-3125, USA
| | - Alexis Huet
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - James F Conway
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Mary Bird
- Biology/Physics Building, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, 91 North Eagleville Road, Unit-3125, Storrs, CT 06269-3125, USA
| | - John Grecco
- Biology/Physics Building, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, 91 North Eagleville Road, Unit-3125, Storrs, CT 06269-3125, USA
| | - Shreya Patel
- Biology/Physics Building, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, 91 North Eagleville Road, Unit-3125, Storrs, CT 06269-3125, USA
| | - Deborah Jacobs-Sera
- Clapp Hall, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, 4249 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Graham Hatfull
- Clapp Hall, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, 4249 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Johann Peter Gogarten
- Biology/Physics Building, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, 91 North Eagleville Road, Unit-3125, Storrs, CT 06269-3125, USA; Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06268-3125, USA
| | - Janne Ravantti
- University of Helsinki, Molecular and Integrative Biosciences Research Programme, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Simon J White
- Biology/Physics Building, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, 91 North Eagleville Road, Unit-3125, Storrs, CT 06269-3125, USA.
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A Capsid Structure of Ralstonia solanacearum podoviridae GP4 with a Triangulation Number T = 9. Viruses 2022; 14:v14112431. [PMID: 36366529 PMCID: PMC9698820 DOI: 10.3390/v14112431] [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: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
GP4, a new Ralstonia solanacearum phage, is a short-tailed phage. Few structures of Ralstonia solanacearum phages have been resolved to near-atomic resolution until now. Here, we present a 3.7 Å resolution structure of the GP4 head by cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). The GP4 head contains 540 copies of major capsid protein (MCP) gp2 and 540 copies of cement protein (CP) gp1 arranged in an icosahedral shell with a triangulation number T = 9. The structures of gp2 and gp1 show a canonical HK97-like fold and an Ig-like fold, respectively. The trimeric CPs stick on the surface of the head along the quasi-threefold axis of the icosahedron generating a sandwiched three-layer electrostatic complementary potential, thereby enhancing the head stability. The assembly pattern of the GP4 head provides a platform for the further exploration of the interaction between Ralstonia solanacearum and corresponding phages.
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Aylward FO, Moniruzzaman M. Viral Complexity. Biomolecules 2022; 12:1061. [PMID: 36008955 PMCID: PMC9405923 DOI: 10.3390/biom12081061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Although traditionally viewed as streamlined and simple, discoveries over the last century have revealed that viruses can exhibit surprisingly complex physical structures, genomic organization, ecological interactions, and evolutionary histories. Viruses can have physical dimensions and genome lengths that exceed many cellular lineages, and their infection strategies can involve a remarkable level of physiological remodeling of their host cells. Virus-virus communication and widespread forms of hyperparasitism have been shown to be common in the virosphere, demonstrating that dynamic ecological interactions often shape their success. And the evolutionary histories of viruses are often fraught with complexities, with chimeric genomes including genes derived from numerous distinct sources or evolved de novo. Here we will discuss many aspects of this viral complexity, with particular emphasis on large DNA viruses, and provide an outlook for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank O. Aylward
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
- Center for Emerging, Zoonotic, and Arthropod-Borne Pathogens, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Mohammad Moniruzzaman
- Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33149, USA;
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9
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Djihinto OY, Medjigbodo AA, Gangbadja ARA, Saizonou HM, Lagnika HO, Nanmede D, Djossou L, Bohounton R, Sovegnon PM, Fanou MJ, Agonhossou R, Akoton R, Mousse W, Djogbénou LS. Malaria-Transmitting Vectors Microbiota: Overview and Interactions With Anopheles Mosquito Biology. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:891573. [PMID: 35668761 PMCID: PMC9164165 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.891573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria remains a vector-borne infectious disease that is still a major public health concern worldwide, especially in tropical regions. Malaria is caused by a protozoan parasite of the genus Plasmodium and transmitted through the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. The control interventions targeting mosquito vectors have achieved significant success during the last two decades and rely mainly on the use of chemical insecticides through the insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) and indoor residual spraying (IRS). Unfortunately, resistance to conventional insecticides currently being used in public health is spreading in the natural mosquito populations, hampering the long-term success of the current vector control strategies. Thus, to achieve the goal of malaria elimination, it appears necessary to improve vector control approaches through the development of novel environment-friendly tools. Mosquito microbiota has by now given rise to the expansion of innovative control tools, such as the use of endosymbionts to target insect vectors, known as "symbiotic control." In this review, we will present the viral, fungal and bacterial diversity of Anopheles mosquitoes, including the bacteriophages. This review discusses the likely interactions between the vector microbiota and its fitness and resistance to insecticides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oswald Y. Djihinto
- Tropical Infectious Diseases Research Centre (TIDRC), University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin
| | - Adandé A. Medjigbodo
- Tropical Infectious Diseases Research Centre (TIDRC), University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin
| | - Albert R. A. Gangbadja
- Tropical Infectious Diseases Research Centre (TIDRC), University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin
| | - Helga M. Saizonou
- Tropical Infectious Diseases Research Centre (TIDRC), University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin
| | - Hamirath O. Lagnika
- Tropical Infectious Diseases Research Centre (TIDRC), University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin
| | - Dyane Nanmede
- Tropical Infectious Diseases Research Centre (TIDRC), University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin
| | - Laurette Djossou
- Tropical Infectious Diseases Research Centre (TIDRC), University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin
| | - Roméo Bohounton
- Tropical Infectious Diseases Research Centre (TIDRC), University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin
| | - Pierre Marie Sovegnon
- Tropical Infectious Diseases Research Centre (TIDRC), University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin
| | - Marie-Joel Fanou
- Tropical Infectious Diseases Research Centre (TIDRC), University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin
| | - Romuald Agonhossou
- Tropical Infectious Diseases Research Centre (TIDRC), University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin
| | - Romaric Akoton
- Tropical Infectious Diseases Research Centre (TIDRC), University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin
| | - Wassiyath Mousse
- Tropical Infectious Diseases Research Centre (TIDRC), University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin
| | - Luc S. Djogbénou
- Tropical Infectious Diseases Research Centre (TIDRC), University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin
- Regional Institute of Public Health, University of Abomey-Calavi, Ouidah, Benin
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10
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Predicting the capsid architecture of phages from metagenomic data. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2022; 20:721-732. [PMID: 35140890 PMCID: PMC8814770 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.12.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Tailed phages are viruses that infect bacteria and are the most abundant biological entities on Earth. Their ecological, evolutionary, and biogeochemical roles in the planet stem from their genomic diversity. Known tailed phage genomes range from 10 to 735 kilobase pairs thanks to the size variability of the protective protein capsids that store them. However, the role of tailed phage capsids’ diversity in ecosystems is unclear. A fundamental gap is the difficulty of associating genomic information with viral capsids in the environment. To address this problem, here, we introduce a computational approach to predict the capsid architecture (T-number) of tailed phages using the sequence of a single gene—the major capsid protein. This approach relies on an allometric model that relates the genome length and capsid architecture of tailed phages. This allometric model was applied to isolated phage genomes to generate a library that associated major capsid proteins and putative capsid architectures. This library was used to train machine learning methods, and the most computationally scalable model investigated (random forest) was applied to human gut metagenomes. Compared to isolated phages, the analysis of gut data reveals a large abundance of mid-sized (T = 7) capsids, as expected, followed by a relatively large frequency of jumbo-like tailed phage capsids (T ≥ 25) and small capsids (T = 4) that have been under-sampled. We discussed how to increase the method’s accuracy and how to extend the approach to other viruses. The computational pipeline introduced here opens the doors to monitor the ongoing evolution and selection of viral capsids across ecosystems.
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11
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Cui N, Yang F, Zhang JT, Sun H, Chen Y, Yu RC, Chen ZP, Jiang YL, Han SJ, Xu X, Li Q, Zhou CZ. Capsid Structure of Anabaena Cyanophage A-1(L). J Virol 2021; 95:e0135621. [PMID: 34549983 PMCID: PMC8610606 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01356-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
A-1(L) is a freshwater cyanophage with a contractile tail that specifically infects Anabaena sp. PCC 7120, one of the model strains for molecular studies of cyanobacteria. Although isolated for half a century, its structure remains unknown, which limits our understanding on the interplay between A-1(L) and its host. Here we report the 3.35 Å cryo-EM structure of A-1(L) capsid, representing the first near-atomic resolution structure of a phage capsid with a T number of 9. The major capsid gp4 proteins assemble into 91 capsomers, including 80 hexons: 20 at the center of the facet and 60 at the facet edge, in addition to 11 identical pentons. These capsomers further assemble into the icosahedral capsid, via gradually increasing curvatures. Different from the previously reported capsids of known-structure, A-1(L) adopts a noncovalent chainmail structure of capsid stabilized by two kinds of mortise-and-tenon inter-capsomer interactions: a three-layered interface at the pseudo 3-fold axis combined with the complementarity in shape and electrostatic potential around the 2-fold axis. This unique capsomer construction enables A-1(L) to possess a rigid capsid, which is solely composed of the major capsid proteins with an HK97 fold. IMPORTANCE Cyanobacteria are the most abundant photosynthetic bacteria, contributing significantly to the biomass production, O2 generation, and CO2 consumption on our planet. Their community structure and homeostasis in natural aquatic ecosystems are largely regulated by the corresponding cyanophages. In this study, we solved the structure of cyanophage A-1(L) capsid at near-atomic resolution and revealed a unique capsid construction. This capsid structure provides the molecular details for better understanding the assembly of A-1(L), and a structural platform for future investigation and application of A-1(L) in combination with its host Anabaena sp. PCC 7120. As the first isolated freshwater cyanophage that infects the genetically tractable model cyanobacterium, A-1(L) should become an ideal template for the genetic engineering and synthetic biology studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Cui
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Feng Yang
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Jun-Tao Zhang
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Hui Sun
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Yu Chen
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Rong-Cheng Yu
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Zhi-Peng Chen
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Yong-Liang Jiang
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Shu-Jing Han
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Xudong Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Qiong Li
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Cong-Zhao Zhou
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
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12
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Structural Studies of the Phage G Tail Demonstrate an Atypical Tail Contraction. Viruses 2021; 13:v13102094. [PMID: 34696524 PMCID: PMC8570332 DOI: 10.3390/v13102094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Phage G is recognized as having a remarkably large genome and capsid size among isolated, propagated phages. Negative stain electron microscopy of the host–phage G interaction reveals tail sheaths that are contracted towards the distal tip and decoupled from the head–neck region. This is different from the typical myophage tail contraction, where the sheath contracts upward, while being linked to the head–neck region. Our cryo-EM structures of the non-contracted and contracted tail sheath show that: (1) The protein fold of the sheath protein is very similar to its counterpart in smaller, contractile phages such as T4 and phi812; (2) Phage G’s sheath structure in the non-contracted and contracted states are similar to phage T4’s sheath structure. Similarity to other myophages is confirmed by a comparison-based study of the tail sheath’s helical symmetry, the sheath protein’s evolutionary timetree, and the organization of genes involved in tail morphogenesis. Atypical phase G tail contraction could be due to a missing anchor point at the upper end of the tail sheath that allows the decoupling of the sheath from the head–neck region. Explaining the atypical tail contraction requires further investigation of the phage G sheath anchor points.
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13
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Serwer P, Wright ET, De La Chapa J, Gonzales CB. Basics for Improved Use of Phages for Therapy. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021; 10:antibiotics10060723. [PMID: 34208477 PMCID: PMC8234457 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10060723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Blood-borne therapeutic phages and phage capsids increasingly reach therapeutic targets as they acquire more persistence, i.e., become more resistant to non-targeted removal from blood. Pathogenic bacteria are targets during classical phage therapy. Metastatic tumors are potential future targets, during use of drug delivery vehicles (DDVs) that are phage derived. Phage therapy has, to date, only sometimes been successful. One cause of failure is low phage persistence. A three-step strategy for increasing persistence is to increase (1) the speed of lytic phage isolation, (2) the diversity of phages isolated, and (3) the effectiveness and speed of screening phages for high persistence. The importance of high persistence-screening is illustrated by our finding here of persistence dramatically higher for coliphage T3 than for its relative, coliphage T7, in murine blood. Coliphage T4 is more persistent, long-term than T3. Pseudomonas chlororaphis phage 201phi2-1 has relatively low persistence. These data are obtained with phages co-inoculated and separately assayed. In addition, highly persistent phage T3 undergoes dispersal to several murine organs and displays tumor tropism in epithelial tissue (xenografted human oral squamous cell carcinoma). Dispersal is an asset for phage therapy, but a liability for phage-based DDVs. We propose increased focus on phage persistence—and dispersal—screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Serwer
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, The University of Texas Health Center, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, USA;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-210-567-3765
| | - Elena T. Wright
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, The University of Texas Health Center, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, USA;
| | - Jorge De La Chapa
- Department of Comprehensive Dentistry, The University of Texas Health Center, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, USA; (J.D.L.C.); (C.B.G.)
| | - Cara B. Gonzales
- Department of Comprehensive Dentistry, The University of Texas Health Center, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, USA; (J.D.L.C.); (C.B.G.)
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14
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M. Iyer L, Anantharaman V, Krishnan A, Burroughs AM, Aravind L. Jumbo Phages: A Comparative Genomic Overview of Core Functions and Adaptions for Biological Conflicts. Viruses 2021; 13:v13010063. [PMID: 33466489 PMCID: PMC7824862 DOI: 10.3390/v13010063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 12/31/2020] [Accepted: 12/31/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Jumbo phages have attracted much attention by virtue of their extraordinary genome size and unusual aspects of biology. By performing a comparative genomics analysis of 224 jumbo phages, we suggest an objective inclusion criterion based on genome size distributions and present a synthetic overview of their manifold adaptations across major biological systems. By means of clustering and principal component analysis of the phyletic patterns of conserved genes, all known jumbo phages can be classified into three higher-order groups, which include both myoviral and siphoviral morphologies indicating multiple independent origins from smaller predecessors. Our study uncovers several under-appreciated or unreported aspects of the DNA replication, recombination, transcription and virion maturation systems. Leveraging sensitive sequence analysis methods, we identify novel protein-modifying enzymes that might help hijack the host-machinery. Focusing on host–virus conflicts, we detect strategies used to counter different wings of the bacterial immune system, such as cyclic nucleotide- and NAD+-dependent effector-activation, and prevention of superinfection during pseudolysogeny. We reconstruct the RNA-repair systems of jumbo phages that counter the consequences of RNA-targeting host effectors. These findings also suggest that several jumbo phage proteins provide a snapshot of the systems found in ancient replicons preceding the last universal ancestor of cellular life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lakshminarayan M. Iyer
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA; (L.M.I.); (V.A.); (A.M.B.)
| | - Vivek Anantharaman
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA; (L.M.I.); (V.A.); (A.M.B.)
| | - Arunkumar Krishnan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Berhampur, Odisha 760010, India;
| | - A. Maxwell Burroughs
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA; (L.M.I.); (V.A.); (A.M.B.)
| | - L. Aravind
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA; (L.M.I.); (V.A.); (A.M.B.)
- Correspondence:
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15
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Dedeo CL, Teschke CM, Alexandrescu AT. Keeping It Together: Structures, Functions, and Applications of Viral Decoration Proteins. Viruses 2020; 12:v12101163. [PMID: 33066635 PMCID: PMC7602432 DOI: 10.3390/v12101163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Revised: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Decoration proteins are viral accessory gene products that adorn the surfaces of some phages and viral capsids, particularly tailed dsDNA phages. These proteins often play a "cementing" role, reinforcing capsids against accumulating internal pressure due to genome packaging, or environmental insults such as extremes of temperature or pH. Many decoration proteins serve alternative functions, including target cell recognition, participation in viral assembly, capsid size determination, or modulation of host gene expression. Examples that currently have structures characterized to high-resolution fall into five main folding motifs: β-tulip, β-tadpole, OB-fold, Ig-like, and a rare knotted α-helical fold. Most of these folding motifs have structure homologs in virus and target cell proteins, suggesting horizontal gene transfer was important in their evolution. Oligomerization states of decoration proteins range from monomers to trimers, with the latter most typical. Decoration proteins bind to a variety of loci on capsids that include icosahedral 2-, 3-, and 5-fold symmetry axes, as well as pseudo-symmetry sites. These binding sites often correspond to "weak points" on the capsid lattice. Because of their unique abilities to bind virus surfaces noncovalently, decoration proteins are increasingly exploited for technology, with uses including phage display, viral functionalization, vaccination, and improved nanoparticle design for imaging and drug delivery. These applications will undoubtedly benefit from further advances in our understanding of these versatile augmenters of viral functions.
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