A generalized transducing phage (ϕIF3) for the genomically sequenced Serratia marcescens strain Db11: a tool for functional genomics of an opportunistic human pathogen

A bacteriophage (ϕIF3) capable of mediating generalized transduction in Serratia marcescens strain Db11 has been isolated and characterized. The genome of this Serratia strain has recently been sequenced and is likely to become the reference strain for S. marcescens researchers. ϕIF3 is most likely a virulent phage, which can transduce markers at frequencies of 10−6 transductants per p.f.u. It has a lipopolysaccharide receptor and was determined to have a latent period of 50 min and a burst size of approximately 100 phages. The phage DNA was resistant to digestion with restriction enzymes. Electron microscopy showed ϕIF3 to be a member of the family Myoviridae. This is the first report of a generalized transducing phage able to infect Db11 and this phage will be a valuable tool for functional genomic analysis of the pathogen host.

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Serratia marcescens Infections

Infection Control ◽

10.1017/s0195941700064201 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 7 (5) ◽

pp. 273-280 ◽

Cited By ~ 45

Author(s):

Jacques F. Acar

Keyword(s):

Serratia Marcescens ◽

Clinical Laboratory ◽

Clinical Specimen ◽

Human Pathogen ◽

The Family ◽

Opportunistic Human Pathogen

The recognition of serratia as an opportunistic human pathogen can be dated from 1959, when the microorganism entered the family of Enterobacteriaceae, with features recognizable in the clinical laboratory and related to the Klebsiella/Enterobacter group. Since then, physicians have been challenged to establish the significance of isolation of serratia from a clinical specimen.

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Characterization and genomic analysis of two Staphylococcus aureus bacteriophages isolated from poultry/livestock farms

Journal of General Virology ◽

10.1099/vir.0.053991-0 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 94 (11) ◽

pp. 2569-2576 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Hyunjin Yoon ◽

Jiae Yun ◽

Jeong-A Lim ◽

Eunjung Roh ◽

Kyu-Seok Jung ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Staphylococcus Aureus ◽

Host Range ◽

Genomic Analysis ◽

Enzyme Treatment ◽

Comparative Genomic ◽

The Family ◽

Phage Dna ◽

Host Range Determination ◽

Range Determination ◽

Livestock Farms

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most important pathogens, causing various diseases in humans and animals. As methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) has become increasingly prevalent, controlling this pathogen with standard antibiotic treatment has become challenging. Bacteriophages (phages) have attracted interest as alternative antibacterial agents to control MRSA. In this study, we isolated six S. aureus phages from soils of poultry/livestock farms. Based on the results of host range determination with 150 S. aureus strains and restriction enzyme treatment of phage DNA, two phages, designated SP5 and SP6, were selected for further characterization and genome sequencing. Both SP5 and SP6 were classified as members of the family Siphoviridae. The genome of SP5 comprises 43 305 bp and contains 63 ORFs, while the SP6 genome comprises 42 902 bp and contains 61 ORFs. Although they have different host spectra, the phage genomes exhibit high nucleotide similarity to each other. Adsorption assay results suggested that the host range determinants of the two phages are involved in both adsorption and infection. Comparative genomic analyses of the two phages provided evidence that the lysogenic/lytic control module and tail proteins may be important for host specificity.

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Characterization and Genomic Analysis of BUCT549, a Novel Bacteriophage Infecting Vibrio alginolyticus With Flagella as Receptor

Frontiers in Microbiology ◽

10.3389/fmicb.2021.668319 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Jing Li ◽

Fengjuan Tian ◽

Yunjia Hu ◽

Wei Lin ◽

Yujie Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Tree ◽

Pathogenic Bacteria ◽

Burst Size ◽

Large Subunit ◽

Food Poisoning ◽

Genomic Analysis ◽

Vibrio Alginolyticus ◽

Transmission Electron ◽

The Family ◽

Infected Bacterium

Vibrio alginolyticus is one of the most important of pathogens that can infect humans and a variety of aquatic animals, and it can cause food poisoning and septicemia in humans. Widely used antibiotics are gradually losing their usefulness, and phages are gaining more attention as new antibacterial strategies. To have more potential strategies for controlling pathogenic bacteria, we isolated a novel V. alginolyticus phage BUCT549 from seafood market sewage. It was classified as a new member of the family Siphoviridae by transmission electron microscopy and a phylogenetic tree. We propose creating a new genus for BUCT549 based on the intergenomic similarities (maximum is 56%) obtained from VIRIDIC calculations. Phage BUCT549 could be used for phage therapy due to its stability in a wide pH (3.0–11.0) range and high-temperature (up to 60°C) environment. It had a latent period of 30–40 min and a burst size of 141 PFU/infected bacterium. In the phylogenetic tree based on a terminase large subunit, BUCT549 was closely related to eight Vibrio phages with different species of host. Meanwhile, our experiments proved that BUCT549 has the ability to infect a strain of Vibrio parahaemolyticus. A coevolution experiment determined that three strains of tolerant V. alginolyticus evaded phage infestation by mutating the MSHA-related membrane protein expression genes, which caused the loss of flagellum. This research on novel phage identification and the mechanism of infestation will help phages to become an integral part of the strategy for biological control agents.

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Characterization and Genomic Analysis of Phage asccφ28, a Phage of the Family Podoviridae Infecting Lactococcus lactis

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.02379-07 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 74 (11) ◽

pp. 3453-3460 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Steven E. Kotsonis ◽

Ian B. Powell ◽

Christopher J. Pillidge ◽

Gaëtan K. Y. Limsowtin ◽

Alan J. Hillier ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lactococcus Lactis ◽

Dna Hybridization ◽

Burst Size ◽

Genomic Analysis ◽

Open Reading Frames ◽

Full Genome Sequence ◽

The Family ◽

Reading Frames ◽

Dairy Fermentation

ABSTRACT Bacteriophage asccφ28 infects dairy fermentation strains of Lactococcus lactis. This report describes characterization of asccφ28 and its full genome sequence. Phage asccφ28 has a prolate head, whiskers, and a short tail (C2 morphotype). This morphology and DNA hybridization to L. lactis phage P369 DNA showed that asccφ28 belongs to the P034 phage species, a group rarely encountered in the dairy industry. The burst size of asccφ28 was found to be 121 ± 18 PFU per infected bacterial cell after a latent period of 44 min. The linear genome (18,762 bp) contains 28 possible open reading frames (ORFs) comprising 90% of the total genome. The ORFs are arranged bidirectionally in recognizable functional modules. The genome contains 577 bp inverted terminal repeats (ITRs) and putatively eight promoters and four terminators. The presence of ITRs, a phage-encoded DNA polymerase, and a terminal protein that binds to the DNA, along with BLAST and morphology data, show that asccφ28 more closely resembles streptococcal phage Cp-1 and the φ29-like phages that infect Bacillus subtilis than it resembles common lactococcal phages. The sequence of this phage is the first published sequence of a P034 species phage genome.

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