1. Genomic diversity of bacteriophages infecting Microbacterium spp.
- Author
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Jacobs-Sera D, Abad LA, Alvey RM, Anders KR, Aull HG, Bhalla SS, Blumer LS, Bollivar DW, Bonilla JA, Butela KA, Coomans RJ, Cresawn SG, D'Elia T, Diaz A, Divens AM, Edgington NP, Frederick GD, Gainey MD, Garlena RA, Grant KW, Gurney SMR, Hendrickson HL, Hughes LE, Kenna MA, Klyczek KK, Kotturi H, Mavrich TN, McKinney AL, Merkhofer EC, Moberg Parker J, Molloy SD, Monti DL, Pape-Zambito DA, Pollenz RS, Pope WH, Reyna NS, Rinehart CA, Russell DA, Shaffer CD, Sivanathan V, Stoner TH, Stukey J, Sunnen CN, Tolsma SS, Tsourkas PK, Wallen JR, Ware VC, Warner MH, Washington JM, Westover KM, Whitefleet-Smith JL, Wiersma-Koch HI, Williams DC, Zack KM, and Hatfull GF
- Subjects
- Bacteriophages classification, Bacteriophages isolation & purification, Base Composition, DNA, Viral genetics, Genes, Viral, Genomics, Phylogeny, Viral Fusion Proteins genetics, Actinobacteria virology, Bacteriophages genetics, Genetic Variation, Genome, Viral
- Abstract
The bacteriophage population is vast, dynamic, old, and genetically diverse. The genomics of phages that infect bacterial hosts in the phylum Actinobacteria show them to not only be diverse but also pervasively mosaic, and replete with genes of unknown function. To further explore this broad group of bacteriophages, we describe here the isolation and genomic characterization of 116 phages that infect Microbacterium spp. Most of the phages are lytic, and can be grouped into twelve clusters according to their overall relatedness; seven of the phages are singletons with no close relatives. Genome sizes vary from 17.3 kbp to 97.7 kbp, and their G+C% content ranges from 51.4% to 71.4%, compared to ~67% for their Microbacterium hosts. The phages were isolated on five different Microbacterium species, but typically do not efficiently infect strains beyond the one on which they were isolated. These Microbacterium phages contain many novel features, including very large viral genes (13.5 kbp) and unusual fusions of structural proteins, including a fusion of VIP2 toxin and a MuF-like protein into a single gene. These phages and their genetic components such as integration systems, recombineering tools, and phage-mediated delivery systems, will be useful resources for advancing Microbacterium genetics., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
- Published
- 2020
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