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Sousa JC, Sillankorva S, Faustino A, Carvalho CM. Suggestion for a new bacteriophage genus for the Klebsiella pneumoniae phage vB_KpnS-Carvaje. Curr Genet 2022. [PMID: 35666274 DOI: 10.1007/s00294-022-01242-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
This work describes the newly isolated Klebsiella pneumoniae phage vB_KpnS-Carvaje that presents unique features in relation to other phages reported to date. These findings provide new insights into the diversity and evolutionary pathways of Klebsiella phages. The genome characterization of the Carvaje phage revealed that its genome length is approximately 57 kb with 99 open reading frames (ORFs), 33 of which have assigned functions while 66 are unknown. This phage differs from other sequenced Klebsiella phages, showing the closest resemblance (up to 65.32%) with Salmonella phages belonging to the Nonanavirus and Sashavirus genera. Comparisons at the amino acid level and phylogeny analysis among homologous genomes indicate that the Klebsiella Carvaje phage forms a novel sister taxon within the node of the Nonanaviruses and Sashaviruses cluster. Due to the unique features of the Carvaje phage, we propose the constitution of a new genus within the Caudoviricetes class. Further studies include the exploitation of this phage and its identified proteins for the control of Klebsiella infections and as recognition molecules in diagnostic methods.
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Bozdeveci A, Karali M, Akpinar R, Alpay Karaoğlu Ş. Isolation, characterization, and comparative genomic analysis of vB_PlaM_Pd22F, a new bacteriophage of the family Myoviridae. Arch Virol 2022. [PMID: 35366103 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-022-05429-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
The use of phage and phage-based products for the prevention and treatment of bee disease is one of the promising natural alternatives to chemical or antibiotic treatments in beekeeping. A novel lysogenic bacteriophage, phage Pd22F (vB_PlaM_Pd22F), was isolated from Paenibacillus dendritiformis by the prophage induction method. This phage, which is capable of infecting Paenibacillus larvae and P. dendritiformis strains, was characterized by microbiological and comparative genomic analysis. Transmission electron microscopy images showed that phage Pd22F had the morphology of a myovirus. Whole-genome sequencing results showed that vB_Pla M_Pd22F has an 86,388-bp linear dsDNA genome with a GC content of 50.68%. This genome has 124 coding sequences (CDSs), 53% of which encode functionally unknown proteins and 57 of which encode proteins that show similarity to known proteins. In addition, one tRNA gene was found. The phage Pd22F genome does not contain any antimicrobial resistance genes. The similarity between the genome sequence of phage Pd22F and the whole genome sequences of other Paenibacillus phages available in the NCBI Virus Database was found to be below 50% (42%), indicating that phage Pd22F differs greatly from previously characterized phages at the DNA level. The results of comparative genomics and phylogenetic analysis revealed that Pd22F is a new phage belonging to the family Myoviridae, order Caudovirales. This is the first report of genomic and morphological characterization of a Paenibacillus dendritiformis prophage.
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Miroshnikov KA, Evseev PV, Lukianova AA, Ignatov AN. Tailed Lytic Bacteriophages of Soft Rot Pectobacteriaceae. Microorganisms 2021; 9:1819. [PMID: 34576713 PMCID: PMC8472413 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9091819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The study of the ecological and evolutionary traits of Soft Rot Pectobacteriaceae (SRP) comprising genera Pectobacterium and Dickeya often involves bacterial viruses (bacteriophages). Bacteriophages are considered to be a prospective tool for the ecologically safe and highly specific protection of plants and harvests from bacterial diseases. Information concerning bacteriophages has been growing rapidly in recent years, and this has included new genomics-based principles of taxonomic distribution. In this review, we summarise the data on phages infecting Pectobacterium and Dickeya that are available in publications and genomic databases. The analysis highlights not only major genomic properties that assign phages to taxonomic families and genera, but also the features that make them potentially suitable for phage control applications. Specifically, there is a discussion of the molecular mechanisms of receptor recognition by the phages and problems concerning the evolution of phage-resistant mutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantin A Miroshnikov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya Str., 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia
- Timiryazev Agricultural Academy, Russian State Agrarian University, Timiryazevskaya Str., 49, 127434 Moscow, Russia
| | - Peter V Evseev
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya Str., 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Anna A Lukianova
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya Str., 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia
- Timiryazev Agricultural Academy, Russian State Agrarian University, Timiryazevskaya Str., 49, 127434 Moscow, Russia
- Department of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory, 1, bldg. 12, 119234 Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander N Ignatov
- Timiryazev Agricultural Academy, Russian State Agrarian University, Timiryazevskaya Str., 49, 127434 Moscow, Russia
- Agrobiotechnology Department, Agrarian and Technological Institute, RUDN University, Miklukho-Maklaya Str., 6, 117198 Moscow, Russia
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Nasr-eldin MA, El-dougdoug NK, Elazab YH, Esmael A. Isolation and Characterization of Two Virulent Phages to Combat Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis causing Dental Caries. J Pure Appl Microbiol 2021; 15:320-334. [DOI: 10.22207/jpam.15.1.25] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to isolate and characterize bacteriophages, as a biocontrol agent, against certain antibiotic-resistant bacteria causing dental caries. Here, two dental caries-causing bacteria S. aureus and E. faecalis were isolated and characterized biochemically using the automated VITEK® 2 system. Antibiotic sensitivity pattern of the isolated dental caries bacteria was assessed against selection of antibiotics. The two isolates showed resistance against most of the tested antibiotics. To overcome this problem, two lytic phages vB_SauM-EG-AE3 and vB_EfaP-EF01 were isolated, identified, and applied to control the growth of S. aureus and E. faecalis, respectively. Phages were identified morphologically using TEM and showed that vB_SauM-EG-AE3 phage is related to Myoviridae and vB_EfaP-EF01 phage belongs to Podoviridae. The two phages exhibited high lytic activity, high stability, and a narrow host range. The one-step growth curve of phages showed burst sizes of 78.87 and 113.55 PFU/cell with latent periods of 25 and 30 minutes for S. aureus phage and E. faecalis phage respectively. In addition, the two phages showed different structural protein profiles and exhibited different patterns using different restriction enzymes. The genome sizes were estimated to be 13.30 Kb and 15.60 Kb for phages vB_SauM-EGAE3, vB_EfaP-EGAE1, respectively. Complete inhibition of bacterial growth was achieved using phages with MOIs of 103, 102 and 10 after 1, 3, 5, and 24 h of incubation at 37°C. Hence, this study indicates that the isolated bacteriophages are promising biocontrol agents that could challenge antibiotic-resistant dental caries bacteria to announce new successful alternatives to antibiotics.
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Gao M, Wang C, Qiang X, Liu H, Li P, Pei G, Zhang X, Mi Z, Huang Y, Tong Y, Bai C. Isolation and Characterization of a Novel Bacteriophage Infecting Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae. Curr Microbiol 2020; 77:722-729. [PMID: 31912220 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-019-01849-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2019] [Accepted: 12/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
A novel virulent phage, vB_KpnP_IME337, isolated from a hospital sewage in Beijing, China, that infects carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae KN2 capsular type was identified and characterized. Next-generation sequencing and genome analysis revealed that vB_KpnP_IME337 had a linear double-stranded genome with a length of 44,266 base pairs and G+C content of 53.7%. Fifty-two putative open reading frames were identified, and no transfer RNA-encoding genes were detected. BLASTn analysis revealed that phage vB_KpnP_IME337 had the highest sequence similarity with Klebsiella phage phiBO1E, with genome coverage of 79%. Based on morphology, phage vB_KpnP_IME337 was determined to belong to the family Podoviridae of the order Caudovirales. It was shown that phage vB_KpnP_IME337 had an infection duration of ~ 90 min and 10 min latent period, and a highly specific to host strain. In conclusion, phage vB_KpnP_IME337 may be a promising alternative candidate to antibiotic treatment for controlling diseases caused by drug-resistant K. pneumoniae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingming Gao
- Department of Graduate, Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, 075000, China
| | - Can Wang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Diseases, The Fifth Medical Center, Chinese General Hospital of the PLA, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Xin Qiang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Huiying Liu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Diseases, The Fifth Medical Center, Chinese General Hospital of the PLA, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Puyuan Li
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Diseases, The Fifth Medical Center, Chinese General Hospital of the PLA, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Guangqian Pei
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Xianglilan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Zhiqiang Mi
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Yong Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Yigang Tong
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, 100071, China. .,Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering (BAIC-SM), College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China.
| | - Changqing Bai
- Department of Graduate, Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, 075000, China. .,Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Diseases, The Fifth Medical Center, Chinese General Hospital of the PLA, Beijing, 100071, China. .,Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
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6
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Akhwale JK, Rohde M, Rohde C, Bunk B, Spröer C, Boga HI, Klenk HP, Wittmann J. Isolation, characterization and analysis of bacteriophages from the haloalkaline lake Elmenteita, Kenya. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0215734. [PMID: 31022240 PMCID: PMC6483233 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0215734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2018] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
As a step towards better understanding of diversity and biology of phages and their hosts in haloalkaline Lake Elmenteita, phages were isolated from sediment samples and overlying water using indigenous bacteria as hosts. 17 seemingly different phages of diverse morphotypes with different dimensions and partly exhibiting remarkably unusual ultrastructures were revealed by transmission electron microscopy. 12 clonal phage isolates were further characterized. Infection capability of the phages was optimum at 30-35°C and in alkali condition with optimum at pH 10-12. Structural protein profiles and restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses patterns were distinct for each of the phage type. Complete nucleotide sequences of phages vB-VmeM-32, vB_EauS-123 and vB_BhaS-171 genomes varied in size from 30,926-199,912 bp and G + C content of between 36.25-47.73%. A range of 56-260 potential open reading frames were identified and annotated. The results showed that the 12 phages were distinct from each other and confirmed the presence and diversity of phages in extreme environment of haloalkaline Lake Elmenteita. The phages were deposited at the German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures and three of their genomes uploaded to NCBI GenBank.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliah Khayeli Akhwale
- Leibniz Institute DSMZ – German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany
- Department of Zoology, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya
- * E-mail:
| | - Manfred Rohde
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Central Facility for Microscopy, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Christine Rohde
- Leibniz Institute DSMZ – German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Boyke Bunk
- Leibniz Institute DSMZ – German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Cathrin Spröer
- Leibniz Institute DSMZ – German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany
| | | | - Hans-Peter Klenk
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Johannes Wittmann
- Leibniz Institute DSMZ – German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany
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Cha Y, Chun J, Son B, Ryu S. Characterization and Genome Analysis of Staphylococcus aureus Podovirus CSA13 and Its Anti-Biofilm Capacity. Viruses 2019; 11:v11010054. [PMID: 30642091 PMCID: PMC6356323 DOI: 10.3390/v11010054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2018] [Revised: 01/04/2019] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is one of the notable human pathogens that can be easily encountered in both dietary and clinical surroundings. Among various countermeasures, bacteriophage therapy is recognized as an alternative method for resolving the issue of antibiotic resistance. In the current study, bacteriophage CSA13 was isolated from a chicken, and subsequently, its morphology, physiology, and genomics were characterized. This Podoviridae phage displayed an extended host inhibition effect of up to 23 h of persistence. Its broad host spectrum included methicillin susceptible S. aureus (MSSA), methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA), local S. aureus isolates, as well as non-aureus staphylococci strains. Moreover, phage CSA13 could successfully remove over 78% and 93% of MSSA and MRSA biofilms in an experimental setting, respectively. Genomic analysis revealed a 17,034 bp chromosome containing 18 predicted open reading frames (ORFs) without tRNAs, representing a typical chromosomal structure of the staphylococcal Podoviridae family. The results presented here suggest that phage CSA13 can be applicable as an effective biocontrol agent against S. aureus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoyeon Cha
- Department of Food and Animal Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea.
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea.
| | - Jihwan Chun
- Department of Food and Animal Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea.
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea.
- Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea.
| | - Bokyung Son
- Department of Food and Animal Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea.
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea.
- Center for Food and Bioconvergence4, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea.
| | - Sangryeol Ryu
- Department of Food and Animal Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea.
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea.
- Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea.
- Center for Food and Bioconvergence4, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea.
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Hou W, Wang S, Briggs BR, Li G, Xie W, Dong H. High Diversity of Myocyanophage in Various Aquatic Environments Revealed by High-Throughput Sequencing of Major Capsid Protein Gene With a New Set of Primers. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:887. [PMID: 29774020 PMCID: PMC5943533 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2018] [Accepted: 04/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Myocyanophages, a group of viruses infecting cyanobacteria, are abundant and play important roles in elemental cycling. Here we investigated the particle-associated viral communities retained on 0.2 μm filters and in sediment samples (representing ancient cyanophage communities) from four ocean and three lake locations, using high-throughput sequencing and a newly designed primer pair targeting a gene fragment (∼145-bp in length) encoding the cyanophage gp23 major capsid protein (MCP). Diverse viral communities were detected in all samples. The fragments of 142-, 145-, and 148-bp in length were most abundant in the amplicons, and most sequences (>92%) belonged to cyanophages. Additionally, different sequencing depths resulted in different diversity estimates of the viral community. Operational taxonomic units obtained from deep sequencing of the MCP gene covered the majority of those obtained from shallow sequencing, suggesting that deep sequencing exhibited a more complete picture of cyanophage community than shallow sequencing. Our results also revealed a wide geographic distribution of marine myocyanophages, i.e., higher dissimilarities of the myocyanophage communities corresponded with the larger distances between the sampling sites. Collectively, this study suggests that the newly designed primer pair can be effectively used to study the community and diversity of myocyanophage from different environments, and the high-throughput sequencing represents a good method to understand viral diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiguo Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shang Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Environmental Biotechnology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, China
| | - Brandon R Briggs
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage, AK, United States
| | - Gaoyuan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Geology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hailiang Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, China.,Department of Geology and Environmental Earth Science, Miami University, Oxford, OH, United States
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Potapov S, Belykh O, Krasnopeev A, Gladkikh A, Kabilov M, Tupikin A, Butina T. Assessing the diversity of the g23 gene of T4-like bacteriophages from Lake Baikal with high-throughput sequencing. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2018; 365:4693836. [PMID: 29228190 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnx264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2017] [Accepted: 12/04/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Based on second generation sequencing (MiSeq platform, Illumina), we determined the genetic diversity of T4-like bacteriophages of the family Myoviridae by analysing fragments of the major capsid protein gene g23 in the plankton of Lake Baikal. The sampling depth in our study was significantly higher than in those obtained by the Sanger method before. We obtained 33 701 sequences of the g23 gene fragments, 141 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) of which were identified. 86 OTUs (60.9%) had the closest relatives from lakes Bourget and Annecy, and 28 OTUs (19.8%) had the highest identity with the Baikal g23 clones, which had been previously identified in the northern and southern basins of the lake by the Sanger method. The remaining OTUs were similar to the clones from other ecosystems. We showed a high genetic diversity of T4-type bacteriophages and a genetic difference with the phage communities from other ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergey Potapov
- Limnological Institute Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 3 Ulan-Batorskaya, Irkutsk 664033, Russia
| | - Olga Belykh
- Limnological Institute Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 3 Ulan-Batorskaya, Irkutsk 664033, Russia
| | - Andrey Krasnopeev
- Limnological Institute Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 3 Ulan-Batorskaya, Irkutsk 664033, Russia
| | - Anna Gladkikh
- Laboratory of Cholera, Irkutsk Antiplague Research Institute of Siberia and Far East, Irkutsk 664047, Russia
| | - Marsel Kabilov
- Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 8 Lavrentiev Avenue, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
| | - Aleksey Tupikin
- Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 8 Lavrentiev Avenue, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
| | - Tatyana Butina
- Limnological Institute Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 3 Ulan-Batorskaya, Irkutsk 664033, Russia
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Eggleston EM, Hewson I. Abundance of Two Pelagibacter ubique Bacteriophage Genotypes along a Latitudinal Transect in the North and South Atlantic Oceans. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:1534. [PMID: 27733846 PMCID: PMC5039313 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.01534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2016] [Accepted: 09/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This study characterizes viral and bacterial dynamics along a latitudinal transect in the Atlantic Ocean from approximately 10 N-40 S. Overall viral abundance decreased with depth, on average there were 1.64 ± 0.71 × 107 virus like particles (VLPs) in surface waters, decreasing to an average of 6.50 ± 2.26 × 105 VLPs in Antarctic Bottom Water. This decrease was highly correlated to bacterial abundance. There are six major water masses in the Southern Tropical Atlantic Ocean, and inclusion of water mass, temperature and salinity variables explained a majority of the variation in total viral abundance. Recent discovery of phages infecting bacteria of the SAR11 clade of Alphaproteobacteria (i.e., pelagiphages) leads to intriguing questions about the roles they play in shaping epipelagic communities. Viral-size fraction DNA from epipelagic water was used to quantify the abundance of two pelagiphages, using pelagiphage-specific quantitative PCR primers and probes along the transect. We found that HTVC010P, a member of a podoviridae sub-family, was most abundant in surface waters. Copy numbers ranged from an average of 1.03 ± 2.38 × 105 copies ml-1 in surface waters, to 5.79 ± 2.86 × 103 in the deep chlorophyll maximum. HTVC008M, a T4-like myovirus, was present in the deep chlorophyll maximum (5.42 ± 2.8 × 103 copies ml-1 on average), although it was not as highly abundant as HTVC010P in surface waters (6.05 ± 3.01 × 103 copies ml-1 on average). Interestingly, HTVC008M was only present at a few of the most southern stations, suggesting latitudinal biogeography of SAR11 phages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin M Eggleston
- Department of Microbiology, Cornell UniversityIthaca, NY, USA; Biology Department, St. Lawrence UniversityCanton, NY, USA
| | - Ian Hewson
- Department of Microbiology, Cornell University Ithaca, NY, USA
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11
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Uyaguari-Diaz MI, Chan M, Chaban BL, Croxen MA, Finke JF, Hill JE, Peabody MA, Van Rossum T, Suttle CA, Brinkman FSL, Isaac-Renton J, Prystajecky NA, Tang P. A comprehensive method for amplicon-based and metagenomic characterization of viruses, bacteria, and eukaryotes in freshwater samples. Microbiome 2016; 4:20. [PMID: 27391119 PMCID: PMC5011856 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-016-0166-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2015] [Accepted: 04/04/2016] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies of environmental microbiota typically target only specific groups of microorganisms, with most focusing on bacteria through taxonomic classification of 16S rRNA gene sequences. For a more holistic understanding of a microbiome, a strategy to characterize the viral, bacterial, and eukaryotic components is necessary. RESULTS We developed a method for metagenomic and amplicon-based analysis of freshwater samples involving the concentration and size-based separation of eukaryotic, bacterial, and viral fractions. Next-generation sequencing and culture-independent approaches were used to describe and quantify microbial communities in watersheds with different land use in British Columbia. Deep amplicon sequencing was used to investigate the distribution of certain viruses (g23 and RdRp), bacteria (16S rRNA and cpn60), and eukaryotes (18S rRNA and ITS). Metagenomic sequencing was used to further characterize the gene content of the bacterial and viral fractions at both taxonomic and functional levels. CONCLUSION This study provides a systematic approach to separate and characterize eukaryotic-, bacterial-, and viral-sized particles. Methodologies described in this research have been applied in temporal and spatial studies to study the impact of land use on watershed microbiomes in British Columbia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel I. Uyaguari-Diaz
- British Columbia Public Health Laboratory, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4R4 Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4 Canada
| | - Michael Chan
- British Columbia Public Health Laboratory, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4R4 Canada
| | - Bonnie L. Chaban
- South Kensington Campus, Imperial College London, Sir Ernst Chain Building, London, SW7 2AZ UK
| | - Matthew A. Croxen
- British Columbia Public Health Laboratory, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4R4 Canada
| | - Jan F. Finke
- Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4 Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4 Canada
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4 Canada
| | - Janet E. Hill
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B4 Canada
| | - Michael A. Peabody
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, South Science Building, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6 Canada
| | - Thea Van Rossum
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, South Science Building, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6 Canada
| | - Curtis A. Suttle
- Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4 Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4 Canada
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4 Canada
- Integrated Microbial Biodiversity Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, ON M5G 1Z8 Canada
| | - Fiona S. L. Brinkman
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, South Science Building, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6 Canada
| | - Judith Isaac-Renton
- British Columbia Public Health Laboratory, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4R4 Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4 Canada
| | - Natalie A. Prystajecky
- British Columbia Public Health Laboratory, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4R4 Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4 Canada
| | - Patrick Tang
- Department of Pathology, Sidra Medical and Research Center, PO Box 26999, Doha, Qatar
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12
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Abstract
Marine viruses are the most abundant biological entity in the oceans, the majority of which infect bacteria and are known as bacteriophages. Yet, the bulk of bacteriophages form part of the vast uncultured dark matter of the microbial biosphere. In spite of the paucity of cultured marine bacteriophages, it is known that marine bacteriophages have major impacts on microbial population structure and the biogeochemical cycling of key elements. Despite the ecological relevance of marine bacteriophages, there are relatively few isolates with complete genome sequences. This minireview focuses on knowledge gathered from these genomes put in the context of viral metagenomic data and highlights key advances in the field, particularly focusing on genome structure and auxiliary metabolic genes. Only a tiny fraction of marine phages have been discovered, yet are known to have important roles in the ocean.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tamsin Redgwell
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Branko Rihtman
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Frances Pitt
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - David J Scanlan
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Andrew Millard
- Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
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13
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Vilas Boas D, Almeida C, Sillankorva S, Nicolau A, Azeredo J, Azevedo NF. Discrimination of bacteriophage infected cells using locked nucleic acid fluorescent in situ hybridization (LNA-FISH). Biofouling 2016; 32:179-190. [PMID: 26813295 DOI: 10.1080/08927014.2015.1131821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2015] [Accepted: 12/04/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Bacteriophage-host interaction studies in biofilm structures are still challenging due to the technical limitations of traditional methods. The aim of this study was to provide a direct fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) method based on locked nucleic acid (LNA) probes, which targets the phage replication phase, allowing the study of population dynamics during infection. Bacteriophages specific for two biofilm-forming bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter, were selected. Four LNA probes were designed and optimized for phage-specific detection and for bacterial counterstaining. To validate the method, LNA-FISH counts were compared with the traditional plaque forming unit (PFU) technique. To visualize the progression of phage infection within a biofilm, colony-biofilms were formed and infected with bacteriophages. A good correlation (r = 0.707) was observed between LNA-FISH and PFU techniques. In biofilm structures, LNA-FISH provided a good discrimination of the infected cells and also allowed the assessment of the spatial distribution of infected and non-infected populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Vilas Boas
- b Laboratory for Process, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy Engineering (LEPABE), Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering , University of Porto , Porto , Portugal
| | - Carina Almeida
- a LIBRO -Laboratório de Investigação em Biofilmes Rosário Oliveira , Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho , Braga , Portugal
- b Laboratory for Process, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy Engineering (LEPABE), Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering , University of Porto , Porto , Portugal
| | - Sanna Sillankorva
- a LIBRO -Laboratório de Investigação em Biofilmes Rosário Oliveira , Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho , Braga , Portugal
| | - Ana Nicolau
- b Laboratory for Process, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy Engineering (LEPABE), Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering , University of Porto , Porto , Portugal
| | - Joana Azeredo
- b Laboratory for Process, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy Engineering (LEPABE), Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering , University of Porto , Porto , Portugal
| | - Nuno F Azevedo
- b Laboratory for Process, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy Engineering (LEPABE), Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering , University of Porto , Porto , Portugal
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14
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Abstract
In recent years, remarkable progress has been made in the field of virus environmental ecology. In marine ecosystems, for example, viruses are now thought to play pivotal roles in the biogeochemical cycling of nutrients and to be mediators of microbial evolution through horizontal gene transfer. The diversity and ecology of viruses in soils are poorly understood, but evidence supports the view that the diversity and ecology of viruses in soils differ substantially from those in aquatic systems. Desert biomes cover ∼ 33% of global land masses, and yet the diversity and roles of viruses in these dominant ecosystems remain poorly understood. There is evidence that hot hyperarid desert soils are characterized by high levels of bacterial lysogens and low extracellular virus counts. In contrast, cold desert soils contain high extracellular virus titers. We suggest that the prevalence of microbial biofilms in hyperarid soils, combined with extreme thermal regimens, exerts strong selection pressures on both temperate and virulent viruses. Many desert soil virus sequences show low values of identity to virus genomes in public databases, suggesting the existence of distinct and as-yet-uncharacterized soil phylogenetic lineages (e.g., cyanophages). We strongly advocate for amplification-free metavirome analyses while encouraging the classical isolation of phages from dominant and culturable microbial isolates in order to populate sequence databases. This review provides an overview of recent advances in the study of viruses in hyperarid soils and of the factors that contribute to viral abundance and diversity in hot and cold deserts and offers technical recommendations for future studies.
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15
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Grose JH, Casjens SR. Understanding the enormous diversity of bacteriophages: the tailed phages that infect the bacterial family Enterobacteriaceae. Virology 2015; 468-470:421-443. [PMID: 25240328 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2014.08.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 179] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2014] [Revised: 08/18/2014] [Accepted: 08/22/2014] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Bacteriophages are the predominant biological entity on the planet. The recent explosion of sequence information has made estimates of their diversity possible. We describe the genomic comparison of 337 fully sequenced tailed phages isolated on 18 genera and 31 species of bacteria in the Enterobacteriaceae. These phages were largely unambiguously grouped into 56 diverse clusters (32 lytic and 24 temperate) that have syntenic similarity over >50% of the genomes within each cluster, but substantially less sequence similarity between clusters. Most clusters naturally break into sets of more closely related subclusters, 78% of which are correlated with their host genera. The largest groups of related phages are superclusters united by genome synteny to lambda (81 phages) and T7 (51 phages). This study forms a robust framework for understanding diversity and evolutionary relationships of existing tailed phages, for relating newly discovered phages and for determining host/phage relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julianne H Grose
- Microbiology and Molecular Biology Department, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA.
| | - Sherwood R Casjens
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
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16
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Clokie MR, Millard AD, Letarov AV, Heaphy S. Phages in nature. Bacteriophage 2014; 1:31-45. [PMID: 21687533 DOI: 10.4161/bact.1.1.14942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 598] [Impact Index Per Article: 59.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2010] [Revised: 01/17/2011] [Accepted: 01/18/2011] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Bacteriophages or phages are the most abundant organisms in the biosphere and they are a ubiquitous feature of prokaryotic existence. A bacteriophage is a virus which infects a bacterium. Archaea are also infected by viruses, whether these should be referred to as 'phages' is debatable, but they are included as such in the scope this article. Phages have been of interest to scientists as tools to understand fundamental molecular biology, as vectors of horizontal gene transfer and drivers of bacterial evolution, as sources of diagnostic and genetic tools and as novel therapeutic agents. Unraveling the biology of phages and their relationship with their hosts is key to understanding microbial systems and their exploitation. In this article we describe the roles of phages in different host systems and show how modeling, microscopy, isolation, genomic and metagenomic based approaches have come together to provide unparalleled insights into these small but vital constituents of the microbial world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martha Rj Clokie
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation; Medical Sciences Building; University of Leicester; Leicester, UK
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17
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Hua Y, An X, Pei G, Li S, Wang W, Xu X, Fan H, Huang Y, Zhang Z, Mi Z, Chen J, Li J, Zhang F, Tong Y. Characterization of the morphology and genome of an Escherichia coli podovirus. Arch Virol 2014; 159:3249-56. [PMID: 25163858 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-014-2189-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2013] [Accepted: 07/18/2014] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Escherichia coli is an important opportunistic pathogen. It can cause sepsis and severe infection. The application of lytic bacteriophages to treat infectious diseases is an alternative to antibiotics. A lytic Escherichia coli phage, designated IME-EC2, was isolated from hospital sewage. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that IME-EC2 to be a member of the family Podoviridae. It had a 60-nm head and a 15-nm tail. Here, we present the complete genome sequence of this phage, which consists of 41,510 bp with an overall G+C content of 59.2 %. A total of 60 coding sequences (CDS) were identified, and the phage genome does not contain any tRNA genes. Forty percent of the unknown CDSs are unique to IME-EC2. This phage does not show significant similarity to other phages at the DNA level, which suggests that IME-EC2 could be a novel phage. One of the unique features identified in the IME-EC2 genome was a gene coding for a putative colanic-acid-degrading protein, which could allow the phage to degrade bacterial capsule and biofilms. Another unique feature is that IME-EC2 does not contain a terminase small subunit, which suggests that this phage may have a unique packaging mechanism. The present work provides novel information on phages and shows that this lytic phage or its products could be exploited to destroy bacterial biofilms and pathogenic E. coli.
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18
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Labonté JM, Suttle CA. Metagenomic and whole-genome analysis reveals new lineages of gokushoviruses and biogeographic separation in the sea. Front Microbiol 2013; 4:404. [PMID: 24399999 PMCID: PMC3871881 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2013.00404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2013] [Accepted: 12/06/2013] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Much remains to be learned about single-stranded (ss) DNA viruses in natural systems, and the evolutionary relationships among them. One of the eight recognized families of ssDNA viruses is the Microviridae, a group of viruses infecting bacteria. In this study we used metagenomic analysis, genome assembly, and amplicon sequencing of purified ssDNA to show that bacteriophages belonging to the subfamily Gokushovirinae within the Microviridae are genetically diverse and widespread members of marine microbial communities. Metagenomic analysis of coastal samples from the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) and British Columbia, Canada, revealed numerous sequences belonging to gokushoviruses and allowed the assembly of five putative genomes with an organization similar to chlamydiamicroviruses. Fragment recruitment to these genomes from different metagenomic data sets is consistent with gokushovirus genotypes being restricted to specific oceanic regions. Conservation among the assembled genomes allowed the design of degenerate primers that target an 800 bp fragment from the gene encoding the major capsid protein. Sequences could be amplified from coastal temperate and subtropical waters, but not from samples collected from the Arctic Ocean, or freshwater lakes. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that most sequences were distantly related to those from cultured representatives. Moreover, the sequences fell into at least seven distinct evolutionary groups, most of which were represented by one of the assembled metagenomes. Our results greatly expand the known sequence space for gokushoviruses, and reveal biogeographic separation and new evolutionary lineages of gokushoviruses in the oceans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica M Labonté
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Curtis A Suttle
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia Vancouver, BC, Canada ; Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, University of British Columbia Vancouver, BC, Canada ; Department of Botany, University of British Columbia Vancouver, BC, Canada ; Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, University of British Columbia Vancouver, BC, Canada
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19
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Maaroufi H, Tanguay RM. Analysis and phylogeny of small heat shock proteins from marine viruses and their cyanobacteria host. PLoS One 2013; 8:e81207. [PMID: 24265841 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0081207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2013] [Accepted: 10/09/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Small heat shock proteins (sHSPs) are oligomeric stress proteins characterized by an α-crystallin domain (ACD) surrounded by a N-terminal arm and C-terminal extension. Publications on sHSPs have reported that they exist in prokaryotes and eukaryotes but, to our knowledge, not in viruses. Here we show that sHSPs are present in some cyanophages that infect the marine unicellular cyanobacteria, Synechococcus and Prochlorococcus. These phage sHSPs contain a conserved ACD flanked by a relatively conserved N-terminal arm and a short C-terminal extension with or without the conserved C-terminal anchoring module (CAM) L-X-I/V, suggested to be implicated in the oligomerization. In addition, cyanophage sHSPs have the signature pattern, P-P-[YF]-N-[ILV]-[IV]-x(9)-[EQ], in the predicted β2 and β3 strands of the ACD. Phylogenetically, cyanophage sHSPs form a monophyletic clade closer to bacterial class A sHSPs than to cyanobacterial sHSPs. Furthermore, three sHSPs from their cellular host, Synechococcus, are phylogenetically close to plants sHSPs. Implications of evolutionary relationships between the sHSPs of cyanophages, bacterial class A, cyanobacteria, and plants are discussed.
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20
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Abstract
Cyanophages are double-stranded DNA viruses that infect cyanobacteria, and they can be found in both freshwater and marine environments. They have a complex pattern of host ranges and play important roles in controlling cyanobacteria population. Unlike marine cyanophages, for which there have been a number of recent investigations, very little attention has been paid to freshwater cyanophages. This review summarizes the taxonomy and morphology, host range, distribution, seasonal dynamics, and complete genomes of freshwater cyanophages, as well as diagnostic markers that can be used to identify them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Virus Resource and Bioinformatics Center, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China
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21
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Han JE, Kim JH, Hwang SY, Choresca CH, Shin SP, Jun JW, Chai JY, Park YH, Park SC. Isolation and characterization of a Myoviridae bacteriophage against Staphylococcus aureus isolated from dairy cows with mastitis. Res Vet Sci 2013; 95:758-63. [PMID: 23790669 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2013.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2012] [Revised: 04/29/2013] [Accepted: 06/01/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
A lytic bacteriophage (phage), designated SAH-1, was isolated from sewage effluent near a dairy cow farm in Gwacheon, South Korea to search for biocontrol agents against Staphylococcus aureus infections. The SAH-1 was morphologically classified as Myoviridae and possessed an approximate 144 kb double-stranded genomic DNA. The phage showed broad host ranges within S. aureus strains including methicillin-resistant strains, and its latent period and burst size were approximately 20 min and 100 PFU/cell, respectively. Moreover, morphologic and genomic analysis of SAH-1 revealed that the phage was closely related to other Myoviridae phages infecting Staphylococcus species. The bacteriolytic activity of phage SAH-1 at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) 1 and 100 indicated its efficiency for reducing bacterial growth. Based on these results, phage SAH-1 could be considered a potential therapeutic or prophylactic candidate against S. aureus infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jee Eun Han
- Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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22
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Butina TV, Belykh OI, Potapov SA, Sorokovikova EG. Diversity of the major capsid genes (g23) of T4-like bacteriophages in the eutrophic Lake Kotokel in East Siberia, Russia. Arch Microbiol 2013; 195:513-20. [PMID: 23539063 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-013-0884-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2012] [Revised: 03/02/2013] [Accepted: 03/05/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Numerous studies revealed high diversity of T4-like bacteriophages in various environments, but so far, little is known about T4-like virus diversity in freshwater bodies, particularly in eutrophic lakes. The present study was aimed at elucidating molecular diversity of T4-like bacteriophages in eutrophic Lake Kotokel located near Lake Baikal by partial sequencing of the major capsid genes (g23) of T4-like bacteriophages. The majority of g23 fragments from Lake Kotokel were most similar to those from freshwater lakes and paddy fields. Despite the proximity and direct water connection between Lake Kotokel and Lake Baikal, g23 sequence assemblages from two lakes were different. UniFrac analysis showed that uncultured T4-like viruses from Lake Kotokel tended to cluster with those from the distant lake of the same trophic status. This fact suggested that the trophic conditions affected the formation of viral populations, particularly of T4-like viruses, in freshwater environments.
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23
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Dekel-Bird NP, Avrani S, Sabehi G, Pekarsky I, Marston MF, Kirzner S, Lindell D. Diversity and evolutionary relationships of T7-like podoviruses infecting marine cyanobacteria. Environ Microbiol 2013; 15:1476-91. [PMID: 23461565 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.12103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2012] [Revised: 01/23/2013] [Accepted: 01/23/2013] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Phages are extremely abundant in the oceans, influencing the population dynamics, diversity and evolution of their hosts. Here we assessed the diversity and phylogenetic relationships among T7-like cyanophages using DNA polymerase (replication), major capsid (structural) and photosynthesis psbA (host-derived) genes from isolated phages. DNA polymerase and major capsid phylogeny divided them into two discrete clades with no evidence for gene exchange between clades. Clade A phages primarily infect Synechococcus while clade B phages infect either Synechococcus or Prochlorococcus. The major capsid gene of one of the phages from clade B carries a putative intron. Nearly all clade B phages encode psbA whereas clade A phages do not. This suggests an ancient separation between cyanophages from these two clades, with the acquisition or loss of psbA occurring around the time of their divergence. A mix and match of clustering patterns was found for the replication and structural genes within each major clade, even among phages infecting different host genera. This is suggestive of numerous gene exchanges within each major clade and indicates that core phage functions have not coevolved with specific hosts. In contrast, clustering of phage psbA broadly tracks that of the host genus. These findings suggest that T7-like cyanophages evolve through clade-limited gene exchanges and that different genes are subjected to vastly different selection pressures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naama P Dekel-Bird
- Faculty of Biology, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
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24
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Jamindar S, Polson SW, Srinivasiah S, Waidner L, Wommack KE. Evaluation of two approaches for assessing the genetic similarity of virioplankton populations as defined by genome size. Appl Environ Microbiol 2012; 78:8773-83. [PMID: 23064328 DOI: 10.1128/AEM.02432-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Viral production estimates show that virioplankton communities turn over rapidly in aquatic ecosystems. Thus, it is likely that the genetic identity of viral populations comprising the virioplankton also change over temporal and spatial scales, reflecting shifts in viral-host interactions. However, there are few approaches that can provide data on the genotypic identity of viral populations at low cost and with the sample throughput necessary to assess dynamic changes in the virioplankton. This study examined two of these approaches-T4-like major capsid protein (g23) gene polymorphism and randomly amplified polymorphic DNA-PCR (RAPD-PCR) fingerprinting-to ask how well each technique could track differences in virioplankton populations over time and geographic location. Seasonal changes in overall virioplankton composition were apparent from pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) analysis. T4-like phages containing similar g23 proteins were found within both small- and large-genome populations, including populations from different geographic locations and times. The surprising occurrence of T4-like g23 within small genomic groups (23 to 64 kb) indicated that the genome size range of T4-like phages may be broader than previously believed. In contrast, RAPD-PCR fingerprinting detected high genotypic similarity within PFGE bands from the same location, time, and genome size class without the requirement for DNA sequencing. Unlike g23 polymorphism, RAPD-PCR fingerprints showed a greater temporal than geographic variation. Thus, while polymorphism in a viral signature gene, such as g23, can be a powerful tool for inferring evolutionary relationships, the degree to which this approach can capture fine-scale variability within virioplankton populations is less clear.
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Reyes A, Semenkovich NP, Whiteson K, Rohwer F, Gordon JI. Going viral: next-generation sequencing applied to phage populations in the human gut. Nat Rev Microbiol 2012; 10:607-17. [PMID: 22864264 DOI: 10.1038/nrmicro2853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 299] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Over the past decade, researchers have begun to characterize viral diversity using metagenomic methods. These studies have shown that viruses, the majority of which infect bacteria, are probably the most genetically diverse components of the biosphere. Here, we briefly review the incipient rise of a phage biology renaissance, which has been catalysed by advances in next-generation sequencing. We explore how work characterizing phage diversity and lifestyles in the human gut is changing our view of ourselves as supra-organisms. Finally, we discuss how a renewed appreciation of phage dynamics may yield new applications for phage therapies designed to manipulate the structure and functions of our gut microbiomes.
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26
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Abstract
The last two decades have revealed that phages (viruses that infect bacteria) are abundant and play fundamental roles in the Earth System, with the T4-like myoviruses (herein T4-like phages) emerging as a dominant 'signal' in wild populations. Here we examine 27 T4-like phage genomes, with a focus on 17 that infect ocean picocyanobacteria (cyanophages), to evaluate lateral gene transfer (LGT) in this group. First, we establish a reference tree by evaluating concatenated core gene supertrees and whole genome gene content trees. Next, we evaluate what fraction of these 'core genes' shared by all 17 cyanophages appear prone to LGT. Most (47 out of 57 core genes) were vertically transferred as inferred from tree tests and genomic synteny. Of those 10 core genes that failed the tree tests, the bulk (8 of 10) remain syntenic in the genomes with only a few (3 of the 10) having identifiable signatures of mobile elements. Notably, only one of these 10 is shared not only by the 17 cyanophages, but also by all 27 T4-like phages (thymidylate synthase); its evolutionary history suggests cyanophages may be the origin of these genes to Prochlorococcus. Next, we examined intragenic recombination among the core genes and found that it did occur, even among these core genes, but that the rate was significantly higher between closely related phages, perhaps reducing any detectable LGT signal and leading to taxon cohesion. Finally, among 18 auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs, a.k.a. 'host' genes), we found that half originated from their immediate hosts, in some cases multiple times (e.g. psbA, psbD, pstS), while the remaining have less clear evolutionary origins ranging from cyanobacteria (4 genes) or microbes (5 genes), with particular diversity among viral TalC and Hsp20 sequences. Together, these findings highlight the patterns and limits of vertical evolution, as well as the ecological and evolutionary roles of LGT in shaping T4-like phage genomes.
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27
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Uchiyama J, Rashel M, Takemura I, Kato SI, Ujihara T, Muraoka A, Matsuzaki S, Daibata M. Genetic characterization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteriophage KPP10. Arch Virol 2012; 157:733-8. [DOI: 10.1007/s00705-011-1210-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2011] [Accepted: 11/24/2011] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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28
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Gao Y, Luo L. Genome-based phylogeny of dsDNA viruses by a novel alignment-free method. Gene 2011; 492:309-14. [PMID: 22100880 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2011.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2011] [Revised: 09/19/2011] [Accepted: 11/01/2011] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Sequence alignment is not directly applicable to whole genome phylogeny since several events such as rearrangements make full length alignments impossible. Here, a novel alignment-free method derived from the standpoint of information theory is proposed and used to construct the whole-genome phylogeny for a population of viruses from 13 viral families comprising 218 dsDNA viruses. The method is based on information correlation (IC) and partial information correlation (PIC). We observe that (i) the IC-PIC tree segregates the population into clades, the membership of each is remarkably consistent with biologist's systematics only with little exceptions; (ii) the IC-PIC tree reveals potential evolutionary relationships among some viral families; and (iii) the IC-PIC tree predicts the taxonomic positions of certain "unclassified" viruses. Our approach provides a new way for recovering the phylogeny of viruses, and has practical applications in developing alignment-free methods for sequence classification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Gao
- Laboratory of Theoretical Biophysics, School of Physical Science and Technology, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China
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29
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Sullivan MB, Huang KH, Ignacio-Espinoza JC, Berlin AM, Kelly L, Weigele PR, DeFrancesco AS, Kern SE, Thompson LR, Young S, Yandava C, Fu R, Krastins B, Chase M, Sarracino D, Osburne MS, Henn MR, Chisholm SW. Genomic analysis of oceanic cyanobacterial myoviruses compared with T4-like myoviruses from diverse hosts and environments. Environ Microbiol 2011; 12:3035-56. [PMID: 20662890 PMCID: PMC3037559 DOI: 10.1111/j.1462-2920.2010.02280.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 245] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
T4-like myoviruses are ubiquitous, and their genes are among the most abundant documented in ocean systems. Here we compare 26 T4-like genomes, including 10 from non-cyanobacterial myoviruses, and 16 from marine cyanobacterial myoviruses (cyanophages) isolated on diverse Prochlorococcus or Synechococcus hosts. A core genome of 38 virion construction and DNA replication genes was observed in all 26 genomes, with 32 and 25 additional genes shared among the non-cyanophage and cyanophage subsets, respectively. These hierarchical cores are highly syntenic across the genomes, and sampled to saturation. The 25 cyanophage core genes include six previously described genes with putative functions (psbA, mazG, phoH, hsp20, hli03, cobS), a hypothetical protein with a potential phytanoyl-CoA dioxygenase domain, two virion structural genes, and 16 hypothetical genes. Beyond previously described cyanophage-encoded photosynthesis and phosphate stress genes, we observed core genes that may play a role in nitrogen metabolism during infection through modulation of 2-oxoglutarate. Patterns among non-core genes that may drive niche diversification revealed that phosphorus-related gene content reflects source waters rather than host strain used for isolation, and that carbon metabolism genes appear associated with putative mobile elements. As well, phages isolated on Synechococcus had higher genome-wide %G+C and often contained different gene subsets (e.g. petE, zwf, gnd, prnA, cpeT) than those isolated on Prochlorococcus. However, no clear diagnostic genes emerged to distinguish these phage groups, suggesting blurred boundaries possibly due to cross-infection. Finally, genome-wide comparisons of both diverse and closely related, co-isolated genomes provide a locus-to-locus variability metric that will prove valuable for interpreting metagenomic data sets.
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Clokie MRJ, Millard AD, Mann NH. T4 genes in the marine ecosystem: studies of the T4-like cyanophages and their role in marine ecology. Virol J 2010; 7:291. [PMID: 21029435 PMCID: PMC2984593 DOI: 10.1186/1743-422x-7-291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2010] [Accepted: 10/28/2010] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
From genomic sequencing it has become apparent that the marine cyanomyoviruses capable of infecting strains of unicellular cyanobacteria assigned to the genera Synechococcus and Prochlorococcus are not only morphologically similar to T4, but are also genetically related, typically sharing some 40-48 genes. The large majority of these common genes are the same in all marine cyanomyoviruses so far characterized. Given the fundamental physiological differences between marine unicellular cyanobacteria and heterotrophic hosts of T4-like phages it is not surprising that the study of cyanomyoviruses has revealed novel and fascinating facets of the phage-host relationship. One of the most interesting features of the marine cyanomyoviruses is their possession of a number of genes that are clearly of host origin such as those involved in photosynthesis, like the psbA gene that encodes a core component of the photosystem II reaction centre. Other host-derived genes encode enzymes involved in carbon metabolism, phosphate acquisition and ppGpp metabolism. The impact of these host-derived genes on phage fitness has still largely to be assessed and represents one of the most important topics in the study of this group of T4-like phages in the laboratory. However, these phages are also of considerable environmental significance by virtue of their impact on key contributors to oceanic primary production and the true extent and nature of this impact has still to be accurately assessed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martha R J Clokie
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
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31
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Butina TV, Belykh OI, Belikov SI. Molecular-genetic identification of T4 bacteriophages in Lake Baikal. DOKL BIOCHEM BIOPHYS 2010; 433:175-8. [PMID: 20714850 DOI: 10.1134/s1607672910040083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2010] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- T V Butina
- Institute of Limnology, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Irkutsk, Russia
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Abstract
A large and diverse group of bacteriophages has been termed 'SPO1-like viruses'. To date, molecular data and genome sequences are available for Bacillus phage SPO1 and eight related phages infecting members of other bacterial genera. Many additional bacteriophages have been described as SPO1-related, but very few data are available for most of them. We present an overview of putative 'SPO1-like viruses' and shall discuss the available data in view of the recently proposed expansion of this group of bacteriophages to the tentative subfamily Spounavirinae. Characteristics of SPO1-related phages include (a) the host organisms are Firmicutes; (b) members are strictly virulent myoviruses; (c) all phages feature common morphological properties; (d) the phage genome consists of a terminally redundant, non-permuted dsDNA molecule of 127-157 kb in size; and (e) phages share considerable amino acid homology. The number of phages isolated consistent with these parameters is large, suggesting a ubiquitous nature of this group of viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jochen Klumpp
- Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zurich, Schmelzbergstrasse 7, Zurich, Switzerland.
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Abstract
Among the tailed phages, the myoviruses, those with contractile tails, are widespread and diverse. An important component of the Myoviridae family is the genus 'T4-like viruses'. The present study was aimed at elucidating the molecular diversity of T4-type bacteriophages in Lake Baikal by partial sequencing of g23 genes of T4-type bacteriophages. Our study revealed that the g23 gene sequences investigated were highly diverse and different from those of T4-like bacteriophages and from g23 clones obtained from different environments. Phylogenetic analysis showed that all g23 fragments from Lake Baikal, except for the one sequence, were more closely related to marine T4 cyanophages and to previously described subgroups of uncultured T4 phages from marine and rice field environments.
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Kaliniene L, Klausa V, Truncaite L. Low-temperature T4-like coliphages vB_EcoM-VR5, vB_EcoM-VR7 and vB_EcoM-VR20. Arch Virol 2010; 155:871-80. [PMID: 20361343 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-010-0656-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2009] [Accepted: 03/04/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Bacteriophages vB_EcoM-VR5, vB_EcoM-VR7 and vB_EcoM-VR20, showing an unusual low-temperature plating profile and producing constantly growing plaques, were isolated from aquatic environments of Lithuania. Although vB_EcoM-VR5, vB_EcoM-VR7 and vB_EcoM-VR20 resembled phage T4 both in their genome size and in their major structural protein (gp23) pattern, physiological properties of all three phages tested differed significantly from those of T4. With an optimum temperature for plating around 24 degrees C and a high efficiency of plating in the range 7-30 degrees C, bacteriophages vB_EcoM-VR7 and vB_EcoM-VR20 failed to plate at 37 degrees C, whereas phage vB_EcoM-VR5 could not be plated at 40 degrees C. Sequence analysis of diagnostic g23 PCR products revealed that g23 of vB_EcoM-VR5, vB_EcoM-VR7 and vB_EcoM-VR20 differed from the corresponding T4 g23 DNA sequence by 21, 21 and 20%, respectively.
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Lavigne R, Darius P, Summer EJ, Seto D, Mahadevan P, Nilsson AS, Ackermann HW, Kropinski AM. Classification of Myoviridae bacteriophages using protein sequence similarity. BMC Microbiol 2009; 9:224. [PMID: 19857251 PMCID: PMC2771037 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2180-9-224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 207] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2009] [Accepted: 10/26/2009] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background We advocate unifying classical and genomic classification of bacteriophages by integration of proteomic data and physicochemical parameters. Our previous application of this approach to the entirely sequenced members of the Podoviridae fully supported the current phage classification of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV). It appears that horizontal gene transfer generally does not totally obliterate evolutionary relationships between phages. Results CoreGenes/CoreExtractor proteome comparison techniques applied to 102 Myoviridae suggest the establishment of three subfamilies (Peduovirinae, Teequatrovirinae, the Spounavirinae) and eight new independent genera (Bcep781, BcepMu, FelixO1, HAP1, Bzx1, PB1, phiCD119, and phiKZ-like viruses). The Peduovirinae subfamily, derived from the P2-related phages, is composed of two distinct genera: the "P2-like viruses", and the "HP1-like viruses". At present, the more complex Teequatrovirinae subfamily has two genera, the "T4-like" and "KVP40-like viruses". In the genus "T4-like viruses" proper, four groups sharing >70% proteins are distinguished: T4-type, 44RR-type, RB43-type, and RB49-type viruses. The Spounavirinae contain the "SPO1-"and "Twort-like viruses." Conclusion The hierarchical clustering of these groupings provide biologically significant subdivisions, which are consistent with our previous analysis of the Podoviridae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rob Lavigne
- Biosystems Department, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 21, Leuven, B-3001, Belgium.
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36
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Thurber RV. Current insights into phage biodiversity and biogeography. Curr Opin Microbiol 2009; 12:582-7. [PMID: 19811946 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2009.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2009] [Revised: 08/06/2009] [Accepted: 08/19/2009] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Phages exert tremendous ecological and evolutionary forces directly on their bacterial hosts. Phage induced cell lysis also indirectly contributes to organic and inorganic nutrient recycling. Phage abundance, diversity, and distribution are therefore important parameters in ecosystem function. The assumption that phage consortia are ubiquitous and homogenous across habitats (everything is everywhere) is currently being re-evaluated. New studies on phage biogeography have found that some phages are globally distributed while others are unique and perhaps endemic to specific environments. Furthermore, advances in technology have allowed scientists to conduct experiments aimed at analyzing phage consortia over temporal scales, and surprisingly have found reoccurring patterns. This review discusses currents in the field of phage ecology with particular focus on efforts to characterize phage diversity and biogeography across various spatial and temporal scales.
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Alemayehu D, Ross RP, O'Sullivan O, Coffey A, Stanton C, Fitzgerald GF, McAuliffe O. Genome of a virulent bacteriophage Lb338-1 that lyses the probiotic Lactobacillus paracasei cheese strain. Gene 2009; 448:29-39. [PMID: 19712732 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2009.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2009] [Revised: 08/11/2009] [Accepted: 08/12/2009] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
There is a lack of fundamental knowledge about the influence of bacteriophage on probiotic bacteria and other commensals in the gut. Here, we present the isolation and morphological and genetic characterization of a virulent narrow-host-range bacteriophage, phiLb338-1. This phage was isolated from fresh sewage and was shown to infect the probiotic cheese strain Lactobacillus paracasei NFBC 338. Electron microscopy studies revealed that phiLb338-1 is a member of the Myoviridae family, with an isometric head, a medium-sized contractile tail, and a complex base plate. Genome sequencing revealed a 142-kb genome with 199 open reading frames. Putative functions could be assigned to 22% of the open reading frames; these had significant homology to genes found in the broad-host-range SPO1-like group of phages which includes the Enterococcus faecalis phage phiEF24C, Listeria phage A511, and Lactobacillus plantarum phage LP65. Interestingly, no significant genomic similarity was observed between the phage and the probiotic host strain. Future studies will determine if the presence of bacteriophage phiLb338-1 or others in the human or animal gut plays an antagonistic role against the probiotic effect of beneficial bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debebe Alemayehu
- Biotechnology Department, Moorepark Food Research Centre, Teagasc-Moorepark, Cork, Ireland
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Millard AD, Zwirglmaier K, Downey MJ, Mann NH, Scanlan DJ. Comparative genomics of marine cyanomyoviruses reveals the widespread occurrence of Synechococcus host genes localized to a hyperplastic region: implications for mechanisms of cyanophage evolution. Environ Microbiol 2009; 11:2370-87. [PMID: 19508343 DOI: 10.1111/j.1462-2920.2009.01966.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The vast majority of cyanophages isolated to date are cyanomyoviruses, a group related to bacteriophage T4. Comparative genome analysis of five cyanomyoviruses, including a newly sequenced cyanophage S-RSM4, revealed a 'core genome' of 64 genes, the majority of which are also found in other T4-like phages. Subsequent comparative genomic hybridization analysis using a pilot microarray showed that a number of 'host' genes are widespread in cyanomyovirus isolates. Furthermore, a hyperplastic region was identified between genes g15-g18, within a highly conserved structural gene module, which contained a variable number of inserted genes that lacked conservation in gene order. Several of these inserted genes were host-like and included ptoX, gnd, zwf and petE encoding plastoquinol terminal oxidase, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase and plastocyanin respectively. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that these genes were acquired independently of each other, even though they have become localized within the same genomic region. This hyperplastic region contains no detectable sequence features that might be mechanistically involved with the acquisition of host-like genes, but does appear to be a site specifically associated with the acquisition process and may represent a novel facet of the evolution of marine cyanomyoviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew D Millard
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry, UK.
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39
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Labonté JM, Reid KE, Suttle CA. Phylogenetic analysis indicates evolutionary diversity and environmental segregation of marine podovirus DNA polymerase gene sequences. Appl Environ Microbiol 2009; 75:3634-40. [PMID: 19363063 DOI: 10.1128/AEM.02317-08] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The distribution of viral genotypes in the ocean and their evolutionary relatedness remain poorly constrained. This paper presents data on the genetic diversity and evolutionary relationships of 1.2-kb DNA polymerase (pol) gene fragments from podoviruses. A newly designed set of PCR primers was used to amplify DNA directly from coastal sediment and water samples collected from inlets adjacent to the Strait of Georgia, British Columbia, Canada, and from the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of 160 cloned PCR products revealed 29 distinct operational taxonomic units (OTUs), with OTUs within a site typically being more similar than those among sites. Phylogenetic analysis of the DNA pol gene fragments demonstrated high similarity between some environmental sequences and sequences from the marine podoviruses roseophage SIO1 and cyanophage P60, while others were not closely related to sequences from cultured phages. Interrogation of the CAMERA database for sequences from metagenomics data demonstrated that the amplified sequences were representative of the diversity of podovirus pol sequences found in marine samples. Our results indicate high genetic diversity within marine podovirus communities within a small geographic region and demonstrate that the diversity of environmental polymerase gene sequences for podoviruses is far more extensive than previously recognized.
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40
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Stewart CR, Casjens SR, Cresawn SG, Houtz JM, Smith AL, Ford ME, Peebles CL, Hatfull GF, Hendrix RW, Huang WM, Pedulla ML. The genome of Bacillus subtilis bacteriophage SPO1. J Mol Biol 2009; 388:48-70. [PMID: 19285085 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2009.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2008] [Revised: 03/01/2009] [Accepted: 03/02/2009] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
We report the genome sequence of Bacillus subtilis phage SPO1. The unique genome sequence is 132,562 bp long, and DNA packaged in the virion (the chromosome) has a 13,185-bp terminal redundancy, giving a total of 145,747 bp. We predict 204 protein-coding genes and 5 tRNA genes, and we correlate these findings with the extensive body of investigations of SPO1, including studies of the functions of the 61 previously defined genes and studies of the virion structure. Sixty-nine percent of the encoded proteins show no similarity to any previously known protein. We identify 107 probable transcription promoters; most are members of the promoter classes identified in earlier studies, but we also see a new class that has the same sequence as the host sigma K promoters. We find three genes encoding potential new transcription factors, one of which is a distant homologue of the host sigma factor K. We also identify 75 probable transcription terminator structures. Promoters and terminators are generally located between genes and together with earlier data give what appears to be a rather complete picture of how phage transcription is regulated. There are complete genome sequences available for five additional phages of Gram-positive hosts that are similar to SPO1 in genome size and in composition and organization of genes. Comparative analysis of SPO1 in the context of these other phages yields insights about SPO1 and the other phages that would not be apparent from the analysis of any one phage alone. These include assigning identities as well as probable functions for several specific genes and inferring evolutionary events in the phages' histories. The comparative analysis also allows us to put SPO1 into a phylogenetic context. We see a pattern similar to what has been noted in phage T4 and its relatives, in which there is minimal successful horizontal exchange of genes among a "core" set of genes that includes most of the virion structural genes and some genes of DNA metabolism, but there is extensive horizontal transfer of genes over the remainder of the genome. There is a correlation between genes in rapid evolutionary flux through these genomes and genes that are small.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles R Stewart
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Rice University, Houston, TX 77251, USA
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41
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Helton RR, Wommack KE. Seasonal dynamics and metagenomic characterization of estuarine viriobenthos assemblages by randomly amplified polymorphic DNA PCR. Appl Environ Microbiol 2009; 75:2259-65. [PMID: 19218408 DOI: 10.1128/AEM.02551-08] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Direct enumeration and genetic analyses indicate that aquatic sediments harbor abundant and diverse viral communities. Thus far, synecological analysis of estuarine sediment viral diversity over an annual cycle has not been reported. This oversight is due in large part to a lack of molecular genetic approaches for assessing viral diversity within a large collection of environmental samples. Here, randomly amplified polymorphic DNA PCR (RAPD-PCR) was used to examine viral genotypic diversity within Chesapeake Bay sediments. Using a single 10-mer oligonucleotide primer for all samples, RAPD-PCR analysis of sediment viral assemblages yielded unique banding patterns across spatial and temporal scales, with the occurrence of specific bands varying among the sample set. Cluster analysis of RAPD-PCR amplicon banding patterns indicated that sediment viral assemblages changed with season and to a lesser extent with geographic location. Sequence analysis of RAPD-PCR amplicons revealed that 76% of sediment viral sequences were not homologous to any sequence in the GenBank nonredundant protein database. Of the GenBank sequence homologs, the majority belonged to viruses within the Podoviridae (24%) and Myoviridae (22%) viral families, which agrees with the previously observed frequencies of these morphological families in Chesapeake Bay sediments. Furthermore, the majority of the sediment viral sequences homologous to GenBank nonredundant protein sequences were phages or prophages (57%). Hence, RAPD-PCR proved to be a reliable and useful approach for characterization of viral assemblages and the genetic diversity of viruses within aquatic sediments.
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42
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Clokie MRJ, Thalassinos K, Boulanger P, Slade SE, Stoilova-McPhie S, Cane M, Scrivens JH, Mann NH. A proteomic approach to the identification of the major virion structural proteins of the marine cyanomyovirus S-PM2. Microbiology (Reading) 2008; 154:1775-1782. [PMID: 18524932 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.2007/016261-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
In this study, an MS-based proteomics approach to characterizing the virion structural proteins of the novel marine 'photosynthetic' phage S-PM2 is presented. The virus infects ecologically important cyanobacteria of the genus Synechococcus that make a substantial contribution to primary production in the oceans. The S-PM2 genome encodes 236 ORFs, some of which exhibit similarity to known phage virion structural proteins, but the majority (54%) show no detectable homology to known proteins from other organisms. Using public and in-house bioinformatics tools the proteome of S-PM2 was predicted and a database compatible with MS-based search engines was constructed. S-PM2 virion proteins were resolved by SDS-PAGE, excised, tryptically digested and analysed by LC-ESI-MS/MS. The resulting MS data were searched against the database. A parallel control study was undertaken on the well-characterized coliphage T4 in order to assess the sensitivity and efficiency of this approach. In total, 11 of the 15 S-PM2 proteins, predicted to be virion proteins by bioinformatics approaches, were confirmed as such, together with the identification of a further 12 novel structural proteins. In the case of T4, 24 of the 39 known virion structural proteins were identified, including the major tail-fibre proteins. This approach has wide-ranging applicability and can be applied to any novel organism whose genome encodes ORFs with few detectable homologies in the public databases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martha R J Clokie
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, Maurice Shock Medical Sciences Building, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 9HN, UK
| | | | - Pascale Boulanger
- U IBBMC-CNRS UMR 8619, Bât. 430 - Université de Paris-Sud, F-91405 Orsay, Paris, France
| | - Susan E Slade
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | | | - Matt Cane
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - James H Scrivens
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Nicholas H Mann
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
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43
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Sullivan MB, Coleman ML, Quinlivan V, Rosenkrantz JE, Defrancesco AS, Tan G, Fu R, Lee JA, Waterbury JB, Bielawski JP, Chisholm SW. Portal protein diversity and phage ecology. Environ Microbiol 2008; 10:2810-23. [PMID: 18673386 PMCID: PMC2657995 DOI: 10.1111/j.1462-2920.2008.01702.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Oceanic phages are critical components of the global ecosystem, where they play a role in microbial mortality and evolution. Our understanding of phage diversity is greatly limited by the lack of useful genetic diversity measures. Previous studies, focusing on myophages that infect the marine cyanobacterium Synechococcus, have used the coliphage T4 portal-protein-encoding homologue, gene 20 (g20), as a diversity marker. These studies revealed 10 sequence clusters, 9 oceanic and 1 freshwater, where only 3 contained cultured representatives. We sequenced g20 from 38 marine myophages isolated using a diversity of Synechococcus and Prochlorococcus hosts to see if any would fall into the clusters that lacked cultured representatives. On the contrary, all fell into the three clusters that already contained sequences from cultured phages. Further, there was no obvious relationship between host of isolation, or host range, and g20 sequence similarity. We next expanded our analyses to all available g20 sequences (769 sequences), which include PCR amplicons from wild uncultured phages, non-PCR amplified sequences identified in the Global Ocean Survey (GOS) metagenomic database, as well as sequences from cultured phages, to evaluate the relationship between g20 sequence clusters and habitat features from which the phage sequences were isolated. Even in this meta-data set, very few sequences fell into the sequence clusters without cultured representatives, suggesting that the latter are very rare, or sequencing artefacts. In contrast, sequences most similar to the culture-containing clusters, the freshwater cluster and two novel clusters, were more highly represented, with one particular culture-containing cluster representing the dominant g20 genotype in the unamplified GOS sequence data. Finally, while some g20 sequences were non-randomly distributed with respect to habitat, there were always numerous exceptions to general patterns, indicating that phage portal proteins are not good predictors of a phage's host or the habitat in which a particular phage may thrive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew B Sullivan
- Departments of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
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44
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Krisch HM, Comeau AM. The immense journey of bacteriophage T4--from d'Hérelle to Delbrück and then to Darwin and beyond. Res Microbiol 2008; 159:314-24. [PMID: 18621124 DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2008.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2008] [Revised: 04/18/2008] [Accepted: 04/21/2008] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
In spite of their importance, the genomics, diversity and evolution of phages and their impact on the biosphere have remained largely unexplored research domains in microbiology. Here, we report on some recent studies with the T4 phage superfamily that shed some new light on these topics.
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Affiliation(s)
- H M Krisch
- Laboratoire de Microbiologie et Génétique Moléculaires, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Paul Sabatier-Toulouse III UMR5100, 31062 Toulouse, France.
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45
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Uchiyama J, Rashel M, Maeda Y, Takemura I, Sugihara S, Akechi K, Muraoka A, Wakiguchi H, Matsuzaki S. Isolation and characterization of a novel Enterococcus faecalis bacteriophage phiEF24C as a therapeutic candidate. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2008; 278:200-6. [PMID: 18096017 DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2007.00996.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis (VRE) has become a significant threat in nosocomial settings. Bacteriophage (phage) therapy is frequently proposed as a potential alternative therapy for infections caused by this bacterium. To search for candidate therapeutic phages against Enterococcus faecalis infections, 30 Enterococcus faecalis phages were isolated from the environment. One of these, virulent phage phiEF24C, which has a broad host range, was selected for analysis. The plaque-forming ability of phiEF24C was virtually unaffected by differences in the clinical host strains. Furthermore, the phage had a shorter latent period and a larger burst size than ordinary tailed phages, indicating that phiEF24C has effective lytic activity against many Enterococcus faecalis strains, including VRE. Morphological and genomic analyses revealed that phiEF24C is a large myovirus (classified as family Myoviridae morphotype A1) with a linear double-stranded DNA genome of c. 143 kbp. Analyses of the N-terminal amino acid sequences of the virion proteins, together with the morphology and the genome size, speculated that phiEF24C is closely related to other myoviruses of Gram-positive bacteria that have been used experimentally or practically for therapy or prophylaxis. Considering these results, phiEF24C may be a potential candidate therapeutic phage against Enterococcus faecalis infections.
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Srinivasiah S, Bhavsar J, Thapar K, Liles M, Schoenfeld T, Wommack KE. Phages across the biosphere: contrasts of viruses in soil and aquatic environments. Res Microbiol 2008; 159:349-57. [DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2008.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2008] [Revised: 04/04/2008] [Accepted: 04/14/2008] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Uchiyama J, Rashel M, Takemura I, Wakiguchi H, Matsuzaki S. In silico and in vivo evaluation of bacteriophage phiEF24C, a candidate for treatment of Enterococcus faecalis infections. Appl Environ Microbiol 2008; 74:4149-63. [PMID: 18456848 DOI: 10.1128/AEM.02371-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Along with the increasing threat of nosocomial infections by vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis, bacteriophage (phage) therapy has been expected as an alternative therapy against infectious disease. Although genome information and proof of applicability are prerequisites for a modern therapeutic phage, E. faecalis phage has not been analyzed in terms of these aspects. Previously, we reported a novel virulent phage, phiEF24C, and its biology indicated its therapeutic potential against E. faecalis infection. In this study, the phiEF24C genome was analyzed and the in vivo therapeutic applicability of phiEF24C was also briefly assessed. Its complete genome (142,072 bp) was predicted to have 221 open reading frames (ORFs) and five tRNA genes. In our functional analysis of the ORFs by use of a public database, no proteins undesirable in phage therapy, such as pathogenic and integration-related proteins, were predicted. The noncompetitive directions of replication and transcription and the host-adapted translation of the phage were deduced bioinformatically. Its genomic features indicated that phiEF24C is a member of the SPO1-like phage genus and especially that it has a close relationship to the Listeria phage P100, which is authorized for prophylactic use. Thus, these bioinformatics analyses rationalized the therapeutic eligibility of phiEF24C. Moreover, the in vivo therapeutic potential of phiEF24C, which was effective at a low concentration and was not affected by host sensitivity to the phage, was proven by use of sepsis BALB/c mouse models. Furthermore, no change in mouse lethality was observed under either single or repeated phage exposures. Although further study is required, phiEF24C can be a promising therapeutic phage against E. faecalis infections.
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Nemoto M, Mio K, Kanamaru S, Arisaka F. ORF334 in Vibrio phage KVP40 plays the role of gp27 in T4 phage to form a heterohexameric complex. J Bacteriol 2008; 190:3606-12. [PMID: 18326574 PMCID: PMC2394983 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00095-08] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2008] [Accepted: 02/28/2008] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
KVP40 is a T4-related phage, composed of 386 open reading frames (ORFs), that has a broad host range. Here, we overexpressed, purified, and biophysically characterized two of the proteins encoded in the KVP40 genome, namely, gp5 and ORF334. Homology-based comparison between KVP40 and its better-characterized sister phage, T4, was used to estimate the two KVP40 proteins' functions. KVP40 gp5 shared significant homology with T4 gp5 in the N- and C-terminal domains. Unlike T4 gp5, KVP40 gp5 lacked the internal lysozyme domain. Like T4 gp5, KVP40 gp5 was found to form a homotrimer in solution. In stark contrast, KVP40 ORF334 shared no significant homology with any known proteins from T4-related phages. KVP40 ORF334 was found to form a heterohexamer with KVP40 gp5 in solution in a fashion nearly identical to the interaction between the T4 gp5 and gp27 proteins. Electron microscope image analysis of the KVP40 gp5-ORF334 complex indicated that it had dimensions very similar to those of the T4 gp5-gp27 structure. On the basis of our biophysical characterization, along with positional genome information, we propose that ORF334 is the ortholog of T4 gp27 and that it plays the role of a linker between gp5 and the phage baseplate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mai Nemoto
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, Graduate School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4359-B39 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8501, Japan
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Comeau AM, Krisch HM. The Capsid of the T4 Phage Superfamily: The Evolution, Diversity, and Structure of Some of the Most Prevalent Proteins in the Biosphere. Mol Biol Evol 2008; 25:1321-32. [DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msn080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
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Thomas JA, Hardies SC, Rolando M, Hayes SJ, Lieman K, Carroll CA, Weintraub ST, Serwer P. Complete genomic sequence and mass spectrometric analysis of highly diverse, atypical Bacillus thuringiensis phage 0305phi8-36. Virology 2007; 368:405-21. [PMID: 17673272 PMCID: PMC2171028 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2007.06.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2007] [Revised: 06/09/2007] [Accepted: 06/30/2007] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
To investigate the apparent genomic complexity of long-genome bacteriophages, we have sequenced the 218,948-bp genome (6479-bp terminal repeat), and identified the virion proteins (55), of Bacillus thuringiensis bacteriophage 0305phi8-36. Phage 0305phi8-36 is an atypical myovirus with three large curly tail fibers. An accurate mode of DNA pyrosequencing was used to sequence the genome and mass spectrometry was used to accomplish the comprehensive virion protein survey. Advanced informatic techniques were used to identify classical morphogenesis genes. The 0305phi8-36 genes were highly diverged; 19% of 247 closely spaced genes have similarity to proteins with known functions. Genes for virion-associated, apparently fibrous proteins in a new class were found, in addition to strong candidates for the curly fiber genes. Phage 0305phi8-36 has twice the virion protein coding sequence of T4. Based on its genomic isolation, 0305phi8-36 is a resource for future studies of vertical gene transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie A. Thomas
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Texas Health Science Center, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900
| | - Stephen C. Hardies
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Texas Health Science Center, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900
| | - Mandy Rolando
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Texas Health Science Center, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900
| | - Shirley J. Hayes
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Texas Health Science Center, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900
| | - Karen Lieman
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Texas Health Science Center, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900
| | - Christopher A. Carroll
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Texas Health Science Center, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900
| | - Susan T. Weintraub
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Texas Health Science Center, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900
| | - Philip Serwer
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Texas Health Science Center, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900
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