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28 pages, 945 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Revisited Genome of Bacillus subtilis Bacteriophage SPP1

by Lia M. Godinho, Mehdi El Sadek Fadel, Céline Monniot, Lina Jakutyte, Isabelle Auzat, Audrey Labarde, Karima Djacem, Leonor Oliveira, Rut Carballido-Lopez, Silvia Ayora and Paulo Tavares

Viruses 2018, 10(12), 705; https://doi.org/10.3390/v10120705 - 11 Dec 2018

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 5761

Abstract

Bacillus subtilis bacteriophage SPP1 is a lytic siphovirus first described 50 years ago. Its complete DNA sequence was reported in 1997. Here we present an updated annotation of the 44,016 bp SPP1 genome and its correlation to different steps of the viral multiplication [...] Read more.

Bacillus subtilis bacteriophage SPP1 is a lytic siphovirus first described 50 years ago. Its complete DNA sequence was reported in 1997. Here we present an updated annotation of the 44,016 bp SPP1 genome and its correlation to different steps of the viral multiplication process. Five early polycistronic transcriptional units encode phage DNA replication proteins and lysis functions together with less characterized, mostly non-essential, functions. Late transcription drives synthesis of proteins necessary for SPP1 viral particles assembly and for cell lysis, together with a short set of proteins of unknown function. The extensive genetic, biochemical and structural biology studies on the molecular mechanisms of SPP1 DNA replication and phage particle assembly rendered it a model system for tailed phages research. We propose SPP1 as the reference species for a new SPP1-like viruses genus of the Siphoviridae family. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bacteriophage Genomes and Genomics: News from the Wild)

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16 pages, 3900 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characterization of the Escherichia coli Virulent Myophage ST32

by Honghui Liu, Hany Geagea, Geneviève M. Rousseau, Simon J. Labrie, Denise M. Tremblay, Xinchun Liu and Sylvain Moineau

Viruses 2018, 10(11), 616; https://doi.org/10.3390/v10110616 - 7 Nov 2018

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 5071

Abstract

The virulent phage ST32 that infects the Escherichia coli strain ST130 was isolated from a wastewater sample in China and analyzed. Morphological observations showed that phage ST32 belongs to the Myoviridae family, as it has an icosahedral capsid and long contractile tail. Host [...] Read more.

The virulent phage ST32 that infects the Escherichia coli strain ST130 was isolated from a wastewater sample in China and analyzed. Morphological observations showed that phage ST32 belongs to the Myoviridae family, as it has an icosahedral capsid and long contractile tail. Host range analysis showed that it exhibits a broad range of hosts including non-pathogenic and pathogenic E. coli strains. Interestingly, phage ST32 had a much larger burst size when amplified at 20 °C as compared to 30 °C or 37 °C. Its double-stranded DNA genome was sequenced and found to contain 53,092 bp with a GC content of 44.14%. Seventy-nine open reading frames (ORFs) were identified and annotated as well as a tRNA-Arg. Only nineteen ORFs were assigned putative functions. A phylogenetic tree using the large terminase subunit revealed a close relatedness with four unclassified Myoviridae phages. A comparative genomic analysis of these phages showed that the Enterobacteria phage phiEcoM-GJ1 is the closest relative to ST32 and shares the same new branch in the phylogenetic tree. Still, these two phages share only 47 of 79 ORFs with more than 90% identity. Phage ST32 has unique characteristics that make it a potential biological control agent under specific conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bacteriophage Genomes and Genomics: News from the Wild)

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18 pages, 1295 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Unprecedented Diversity of ssDNA Phages from the Family Microviridae Detected within the Gut of a Protochordate Model Organism (Ciona robusta)

by Alexandria Creasy, Karyna Rosario, Brittany A. Leigh, Larry J. Dishaw and Mya Breitbart

Viruses 2018, 10(8), 404; https://doi.org/10.3390/v10080404 - 31 Jul 2018

Cited by 41 | Viewed by 6699

Abstract

Phages (viruses that infect bacteria) play important roles in the gut ecosystem through infection of bacterial hosts, yet the gut virome remains poorly characterized. Mammalian gut viromes are dominated by double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) phages belonging to the order Caudovirales and single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) [...] Read more.

Phages (viruses that infect bacteria) play important roles in the gut ecosystem through infection of bacterial hosts, yet the gut virome remains poorly characterized. Mammalian gut viromes are dominated by double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) phages belonging to the order Caudovirales and single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) phages belonging to the family Microviridae. Since the relative proportion of each of these phage groups appears to correlate with age and health status in humans, it is critical to understand both ssDNA and dsDNA phages in the gut. Building upon prior research describing dsDNA viruses in the gut of Ciona robusta, a marine invertebrate model system used to study gut microbial interactions, this study investigated ssDNA phages found in the Ciona gut. We identified 258 Microviridae genomes, which were dominated by novel members of the Gokushovirinae subfamily, but also represented several proposed phylogenetic groups (Alpavirinae, Aravirinae, Group D, Parabacteroides prophages, and Pequeñovirus) and a novel group. Comparative analyses between Ciona specimens with full and cleared guts, as well as the surrounding water, indicated that Ciona retains a distinct and highly diverse community of ssDNA phages. This study significantly expands the known diversity within the Microviridae family and demonstrates the promise of Ciona as a model system for investigating their role in animal health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bacteriophage Genomes and Genomics: News from the Wild)

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19 pages, 6709 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Pectobacterium atrosepticum Phage vB_PatP_CB5: A Member of the Proposed Genus ‘Phimunavirus’

by Colin Buttimer, Alan Lucid, Horst Neve, Charles M. A. P. Franz, Jim O’Mahony, Dann Turner, Rob Lavigne and Aidan Coffey

Viruses 2018, 10(8), 394; https://doi.org/10.3390/v10080394 - 26 Jul 2018

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 6199

Abstract

Pectobacterium atrosepticum is a phytopathogen of economic importance as it is the causative agent of potato blackleg and soft rot. Here we describe the Pectobacterium phage vB_PatP_CB5 (abbreviated as CB5), which specifically infects the bacterium. The bacteriophage is characterized in detail and TEM [...] Read more.

Pectobacterium atrosepticum is a phytopathogen of economic importance as it is the causative agent of potato blackleg and soft rot. Here we describe the Pectobacterium phage vB_PatP_CB5 (abbreviated as CB5), which specifically infects the bacterium. The bacteriophage is characterized in detail and TEM micrographs indicate that it belongs to the Podoviridae family. CB5 shares significant pairwise nucleotide identity (≥80%) with P. atrosepticum phages φM1, Peat1, and PP90 and also shares common genome organization. Phylograms constructed using conserved proteins and whole-genome comparison-based amino acid sequences show that these phages form a distinct clade within the Autographivirinae. They also possess conserved RNA polymerase recognition and specificity loop sequences. Their lysis cassette resembles that of KP34virus, containing in sequential order a U-spanin, a holin, and a signal–arrest–release (SAR) endolysin. However, they share low pairwise nucleotide identity with the type phage of the KP34virus genus, Klebsiella phage KP34. In addition, phage KP34 does not possess several conserved proteins associated with these P. atrosepticum phages. As such, we propose the allocation of phages CB5, Peat1, φM1, and PP90 to a separate new genus designated Phimunavirus. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bacteriophage Genomes and Genomics: News from the Wild)

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29 pages, 5813 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genomic Analysis of 48 Paenibacillus larvae Bacteriophages

by Casey Stamereilers, Christopher P. Fajardo, Jamison K. Walker, Katterinne N. Mendez, Eduardo Castro-Nallar, Julianne H. Grose, Sandra Hope and Philippos K. Tsourkas

Viruses 2018, 10(7), 377; https://doi.org/10.3390/v10070377 - 19 Jul 2018

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 6422

Abstract

The antibiotic-resistant bacterium Paenibacillus larvae is the causative agent of American foulbrood (AFB), currently the most destructive bacterial disease in honeybees. Phages that infect P. larvae were isolated as early as the 1950s, but it is only in recent years that P. larvae [...] Read more.

The antibiotic-resistant bacterium Paenibacillus larvae is the causative agent of American foulbrood (AFB), currently the most destructive bacterial disease in honeybees. Phages that infect P. larvae were isolated as early as the 1950s, but it is only in recent years that P. larvae phage genomes have been sequenced and annotated. In this study we analyze the genomes of all 48 currently sequenced P. larvae phage genomes and classify them into four clusters and a singleton. The majority of P. larvae phage genomes are in the 38–45 kbp range and use the cohesive ends (cos) DNA-packaging strategy, while a minority have genomes in the 50–55 kbp range that use the direct terminal repeat (DTR) DNA-packaging strategy. The DTR phages form a distinct cluster, while the cos phages form three clusters and a singleton. Putative functions were identified for about half of all phage proteins. Structural and assembly proteins are located at the front of the genome and tend to be conserved within clusters, whereas regulatory and replication proteins are located in the middle and rear of the genome and are not conserved, even within clusters. All P. larvae phage genomes contain a conserved N-acetylmuramoyl-l-alanine amidase that serves as an endolysin. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bacteriophage Genomes and Genomics: News from the Wild)

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14 pages, 1976 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Pseudomonas PB1-Like Phages: Whole Genomes from Metagenomes Offer Insight into an Abundant Group of Bacteriophages

by Siobhan C. Watkins, Emily Sible and Catherine Putonti

Viruses 2018, 10(6), 331; https://doi.org/10.3390/v10060331 - 16 Jun 2018

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 5591

Abstract

Despite the abundance, ubiquity and impact of environmental viruses, their inherent genomic plasticity and extreme diversity pose significant challenges for the examination of bacteriophages on Earth. Viral metagenomic studies have offered insight into broader aspects of phage ecology and repeatedly uncover genes to [...] Read more.

Despite the abundance, ubiquity and impact of environmental viruses, their inherent genomic plasticity and extreme diversity pose significant challenges for the examination of bacteriophages on Earth. Viral metagenomic studies have offered insight into broader aspects of phage ecology and repeatedly uncover genes to which we are currently unable to assign function. A combined effort of phage isolation and metagenomic survey of Chicago’s nearshore waters of Lake Michigan revealed the presence of Pbunaviruses, relatives of the Pseudomonas phage PB1. This prompted our expansive investigation of PB1-like phages. Genomic signatures of PB1-like phages and Pbunaviruses were identified, permitting the unambiguous distinction between the presence/absence of these phages in soils, freshwater and wastewater samples, as well as publicly available viral metagenomic datasets. This bioinformatic analysis led to the de novo assembly of nine novel PB1-like phage genomes from a metagenomic survey of samples collected from Lake Michigan. While this study finds that Pbunaviruses are abundant in various environments of Northern Illinois, genomic variation also exists to a considerable extent within individual communities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bacteriophage Genomes and Genomics: News from the Wild)

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10 pages, 2229 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of 19 Highly Conserved Vibrio cholerae Bacteriophages Isolated from Environmental and Patient Sources Over a Twelve-Year Period

by Angus Angermeyer, Moon Moon Das, Durg Vijai Singh and Kimberley D. Seed

Viruses 2018, 10(6), 299; https://doi.org/10.3390/v10060299 - 1 Jun 2018

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 4907

Abstract

The Vibrio cholerae biotype “El Tor” is responsible for all of the current epidemic and endemic cholera outbreaks worldwide. These outbreaks are clonal, and it is hypothesized that they originate from the coastal areas near the Bay of Bengal, where the lytic bacteriophage [...] Read more.

The Vibrio cholerae biotype “El Tor” is responsible for all of the current epidemic and endemic cholera outbreaks worldwide. These outbreaks are clonal, and it is hypothesized that they originate from the coastal areas near the Bay of Bengal, where the lytic bacteriophage ICP1 (International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh cholera phage 1) specifically preys upon these pathogenic outbreak strains. ICP1 has also been the dominant bacteriophage found in cholera patient stools since 2001. However, little is known about the genomic differences between the ICP1 strains that have been collected over time. Here, we elucidate the pan-genome and the phylogeny of the ICP1 strains by aligning, annotating, and analyzing the genomes of 19 distinct isolates that were collected between 2001 and 2012. Our results reveal that the ICP1 isolates are highly conserved and possess a large core-genome as well as a smaller, somewhat flexible accessory-genome. Despite its overall conservation, ICP1 strains have managed to acquire a number of unknown genes, as well as a CRISPR-Cas system which is known to be critical for its ongoing struggle for co-evolutionary dominance over its host. This study describes a foundation on which to construct future molecular and bioinformatic studies of these V. cholerae-associated bacteriophages. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bacteriophage Genomes and Genomics: News from the Wild)

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16 pages, 1370 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Transposition Behavior Revealed by High-Resolution Description of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Saltovirus Integration Sites

by Gilles Vergnaud, Cédric Midoux, Yann Blouin, Maria Bourkaltseva, Victor Krylov and Christine Pourcel

Viruses 2018, 10(5), 245; https://doi.org/10.3390/v10050245 - 7 May 2018

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4350

Abstract

Transposable phages, also called saltoviruses, of which the Escherichia coli phage Mu is the reference, are temperate phages that multiply their genome through replicative transposition at multiple sites in their host chromosome. The viral genome is packaged together with host DNA at both [...] Read more.

Transposable phages, also called saltoviruses, of which the Escherichia coli phage Mu is the reference, are temperate phages that multiply their genome through replicative transposition at multiple sites in their host chromosome. The viral genome is packaged together with host DNA at both ends. In the present work, genome sequencing of three Pseudomonas aeruginosa transposable phages, HW12, 2P1, and Ab30, incidentally gave us access to the location of thousands of replicative integration sites and revealed the existence of a variable number of hotspots. Taking advantage of deep sequencing, we then designed an experiment to study 13,000,000 transposon integration sites of bacteriophage Ab30. The investigation revealed the presence of 42 transposition hotspots adjacent to bacterial interspersed mosaic elements (BIME) accounting for 5% of all transposition sites. The rest of the sites appeared widely distributed with the exception of coldspots associated with low G-C content segments, including the putative O-antigen biosynthesis cluster. Surprisingly, 0.4% of the transposition events occurred in a copy of the phage genome itself, indicating that the previously described immunity against such events is slightly leaky. This observation allowed drawing an image of the phage chromosome supercoiling into four loops. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bacteriophage Genomes and Genomics: News from the Wild)

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17 pages, 12196 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genomic Characterization of Sixteen Yersinia enterocolitica-Infecting Podoviruses of Pig Origin

by Mabruka Salem and Mikael Skurnik

Viruses 2018, 10(4), 174; https://doi.org/10.3390/v10040174 - 3 Apr 2018

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 5020

Abstract

Yersinia enterocolitica causes enteric infections in humans and animals. Human infections are often caused by contaminated pork meat. Y. enterocolitica colonizes pig tonsils and pigs secrete both the human pathogen and its specific bacteriophages into the stools. In this work, sixteen Y. enterocolitica [...] Read more.

Yersinia enterocolitica causes enteric infections in humans and animals. Human infections are often caused by contaminated pork meat. Y. enterocolitica colonizes pig tonsils and pigs secrete both the human pathogen and its specific bacteriophages into the stools. In this work, sixteen Y. enterocolitica—infecting lytic bacteriophages isolated from pig stools originating from several pig farms were characterized. All phages belong to the Podoviridae family and their genomes range between 38,391–40,451 bp in size. The overall genome organization of all the phages resembled that of T7-like phages, having 3–6 host RNA polymerase (RNAP)-specific promoters at the beginning of the genomes and 11–13 phage RNAP-specific promoters as well as 3–5 rho-independent terminators, scattered throughout the genomes. Using a ligation-based approach, the physical termini of the genomes containing direct terminal repeats of 190–224 bp were established. No genes associated with lysogeny nor any toxin, virulence factor or antibiotic resistance genes were present in the genomes. Even though the phages had been isolated from different pig farms the nucleotide sequences of their genomes were 90–97% identical suggesting that the phages were undergoing microevolution within and between the farms. Lipopolysaccharide was found to be the surface receptor of all but one of the phages. The phages are classified as new species within the T7virus genus of Autographivirinae subfamily. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bacteriophage Genomes and Genomics: News from the Wild)

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14 pages, 3008 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Deciphering the Human Virome with Single-Virus Genomics and Metagenomics

by Maria José De la Cruz Peña, Francisco Martinez-Hernandez, Inmaculada Garcia-Heredia, Mónica Lluesma Gomez, Òscar Fornas and Manuel Martinez-Garcia

Viruses 2018, 10(3), 113; https://doi.org/10.3390/v10030113 - 6 Mar 2018

Cited by 34 | Viewed by 13439

Abstract

Single-cell genomics has unveiled the metabolic potential of dominant microbes inhabiting different environments, including the human body. The lack of genomic information for predominant microbes of the human body, such as bacteriophages, hinders our ability to answer fundamental questions about our viral communities. [...] Read more.

Single-cell genomics has unveiled the metabolic potential of dominant microbes inhabiting different environments, including the human body. The lack of genomic information for predominant microbes of the human body, such as bacteriophages, hinders our ability to answer fundamental questions about our viral communities. Here, we applied single-virus genomics (SVGs) to natural human salivary samples in combination with viral metagenomics to gain some insights into the viral community structure of the oral cavity. Saliva samples were processed for viral metagenomics (n = 15) and SVGs (n = 3). A total of 1328 uncultured single viruses were sorted by fluorescence-activated virus sorting followed by whole genome amplification. Sequencing of 24 viral single amplified genomes (vSAGs) showed that half of the vSAGs contained viral hallmark genes. Among those bona fide viruses, the uncultured single virus 92-C13 putatively infecting oral Streptococcus-like species was within the top ≈10 most abundant viruses in the oral virome. Viral gene network and viral metagenomics analyses of 439 oral viruses from cultures, metagenomics, and SVGs revealed that salivary viruses were tentatively structured into ≈200 major viral clusters, corresponding to approximately genus-level groupings. Data showed that none of the publicly available viral isolates, excepting an Actinomyces phage, were significantly abundant in the oral viromes. In addition, none of the obtained viral contigs and vSAGs from this study were present in all viromes. Overall, the data demonstrates that most viral isolates are not naturally abundant in saliva, and furthermore, the predominant viruses in the oral cavity are yet uncharacterized. Results suggest a variable, complex, and interpersonal viral profile. Finally, we demonstrated the power of SVGs in combination with viral metagenomics to unveil the genetic information of the uncultured viruses of the human virome. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bacteriophage Genomes and Genomics: News from the Wild)

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16 pages, 6542 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bacteriophage GC1, a Novel Tectivirus Infecting Gluconobacter Cerinus, an Acetic Acid Bacterium Associated with Wine-Making

by Cécile Philippe, Mart Krupovic, Fety Jaomanjaka, Olivier Claisse, Melina Petrel and Claire Le Marrec

Viruses 2018, 10(1), 39; https://doi.org/10.3390/v10010039 - 16 Jan 2018

Cited by 34 | Viewed by 6522

Abstract

The Gluconobacter phage GC1 is a novel member of the Tectiviridae family isolated from a juice sample collected during dry white wine making. The bacteriophage infects Gluconobacter cerinus, an acetic acid bacterium which represents a spoilage microorganism during wine making, mainly because [...] Read more.

The Gluconobacter phage GC1 is a novel member of the Tectiviridae family isolated from a juice sample collected during dry white wine making. The bacteriophage infects Gluconobacter cerinus, an acetic acid bacterium which represents a spoilage microorganism during wine making, mainly because it is able to produce ethyl alcohol and transform it into acetic acid. Transmission electron microscopy revealed tail-less icosahedral particles with a diameter of ~78 nm. The linear double-stranded DNA genome of GC1 (16,523 base pairs) contains terminal inverted repeats and carries 36 open reading frames, only a handful of which could be functionally annotated. These encode for the key proteins involved in DNA replication (protein-primed family B DNA polymerase) as well as in virion structure and assembly (major capsid protein, genome packaging ATPase (adenosine triphosphatase) and several minor capsid proteins). GC1 is the first tectivirus infecting an alphaproteobacterial host and is thus far the only temperate tectivirus of gram-negative bacteria. Based on distinctive sequence and life-style features, we propose that GC1 represents a new genus within the Tectiviridae, which we tentatively named “Gammatectivirus”. Furthermore, GC1 helps to bridge the gap in the sequence space between alphatectiviruses and betatectiviruses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bacteriophage Genomes and Genomics: News from the Wild)

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9117 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Analysis of 37 Acinetobacter Bacteriophages

by Dann Turner, Hans-Wolfgang Ackermann, Andrew M. Kropinski, Rob Lavigne, J. Mark Sutton and Darren M. Reynolds

Viruses 2018, 10(1), 5; https://doi.org/10.3390/v10010005 - 24 Dec 2017

Cited by 33 | Viewed by 11613

Abstract

Members of the genus Acinetobacter are ubiquitous in the environment and the multiple-drug resistant species A. baumannii is of significant clinical concern. This clinical relevance is currently driving research on bacterial viruses infecting A. baumannii, in an effort to implement phage therapy [...] Read more.

Members of the genus Acinetobacter are ubiquitous in the environment and the multiple-drug resistant species A. baumannii is of significant clinical concern. This clinical relevance is currently driving research on bacterial viruses infecting A. baumannii, in an effort to implement phage therapy and phage-derived antimicrobials. Initially, a total of 42 Acinetobacter phage genome sequences were available in the international nucleotide sequence databases, corresponding to a total of 2.87 Mbp of sequence information and representing all three families of the order Caudovirales and a single member of the Leviviridae. A comparative bioinformatics analysis of 37 Acinetobacter phages revealed that they form six discrete clusters and two singletons based on genomic organisation and nucleotide sequence identity. The assignment of these phages to clusters was further supported by proteomic relationships established using OrthoMCL. The 4067 proteins encoded by the 37 phage genomes formed 737 groups and 974 orphans. Notably, over half of the proteins encoded by the Acinetobacter phages are of unknown function. The comparative analysis and clustering presented enables an updated taxonomic framing of these clades. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bacteriophage Genomes and Genomics: News from the Wild)

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4807 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Metagenomic Analysis of Therapeutic PYO Phage Cocktails from 1997 to 2014

by Julia Villarroel, Mette Voldby Larsen, Mogens Kilstrup and Morten Nielsen

Viruses 2017, 9(11), 328; https://doi.org/10.3390/v9110328 - 3 Nov 2017

Cited by 53 | Viewed by 10953

Abstract

Phage therapy has regained interest in recent years due to the alarming spread of antibiotic resistance. Whilst phage cocktails are commonly sold in pharmacies in countries such as Georgia and Russia, this is not the case in western countries due to western regulatory [...] Read more.

Phage therapy has regained interest in recent years due to the alarming spread of antibiotic resistance. Whilst phage cocktails are commonly sold in pharmacies in countries such as Georgia and Russia, this is not the case in western countries due to western regulatory agencies requiring a thorough characterization of the drug. Here, DNA sequencing of constituent biological entities constitutes a first step. The pyophage (PYO) cocktail is one of the main commercial products of the Georgian Eliava Institute of Bacteriophage, Microbiology and Virology and is used to cure skin infections. Since its first production in the 1930s, the composition of the cocktail has been periodically modified to add phages effective against emerging pathogenic strains. In this paper, we compared the composition of three PYO cocktails from 1997 (PYO97), 2000 (PYO2000) and 2014 (PYO2014). Based on next generation sequencing, de novo assembly and binning of contigs into draft genomes based on tetranucleotide distance, thirty and twenty-nine phage draft genomes were predicted in PYO97 and PYO2014, respectively. Of these, thirteen and fifteen shared high similarity to known phages. Eleven draft genomes were found to be common in the two cocktails. One of these showed no similarity to publicly available phage genomes. Representatives of phages targeting E. faecalis, E. faecium, E. coli, Proteus, P. aeruginosa and S. aureus were found in both cocktails. Finally, we estimated larger overlap of the PYO2000 cocktail to PYO97 compared to PYO2014. Using next generation sequencing and metagenomics analysis, we were able to characterize and compare the content of PYO cocktails separated by 17 years in time. Even though the cocktail composition is upgraded every six months, we found it to remain relatively stable over the years. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bacteriophage Genomes and Genomics: News from the Wild)

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16 pages, 1354 KiB

Open AccessReview

Bacteriophages of Myxococcus xanthus, a Social Bacterium

by Marie Vasse and Sébastien Wielgoss

Viruses 2018, 10(7), 374; https://doi.org/10.3390/v10070374 - 18 Jul 2018

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 7456

Abstract

Bacteriophages have been used as molecular tools in fundamental biology investigations for decades. Beyond this, however, they play a crucial role in the eco-evolutionary dynamics of bacterial communities through their demographic impact and the source of genetic information they represent. The increasing interest [...] Read more.

Bacteriophages have been used as molecular tools in fundamental biology investigations for decades. Beyond this, however, they play a crucial role in the eco-evolutionary dynamics of bacterial communities through their demographic impact and the source of genetic information they represent. The increasing interest in describing ecological and evolutionary aspects of bacteria–phage interactions has led to major insights into their fundamental characteristics, including arms race dynamics and acquired bacterial immunity. Here, we review knowledge on the phages of the myxobacteria with a major focus on phages infecting Myxococcus xanthus, a bacterial model system widely used to study developmental biology and social evolution. In particular, we focus upon the isolation of myxophages from natural sources and describe the morphology and life cycle parameters, as well as the molecular genetics and genomics of the major groups of myxophages. Finally, we propose several interesting research directions which focus on the interplay between myxobacterial host sociality and bacteria–phage interactions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bacteriophage Genomes and Genomics: News from the Wild)

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7 pages, 8133 KiB

Open AccessConference Report

“French Phage Network”—Third Meeting Report

by Mireille Ansaldi, Laurent Debarbieux, Sylvain Gandon, Marie-Agnès Petit, Paulo Tavares and Pascale Boulanger

Viruses 2018, 10(3), 123; https://doi.org/10.3390/v10030123 - 10 Mar 2018

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 5399

Abstract

In its third year of existence, the French Phage Network (Phages.fr) is pursuing its expansion. With more than 25 groups, mostly based in France, working on the various aspects of phage research, the network has increased its visibility, interactivity, and activity. The third [...] Read more.

In its third year of existence, the French Phage Network (Phages.fr) is pursuing its expansion. With more than 25 groups, mostly based in France, working on the various aspects of phage research, the network has increased its visibility, interactivity, and activity. The third meeting of the Phages.fr network, held on November 2017 at the Gif-sur-Yvette Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) campus, was a great opportunity for many young scientists to present their work and interact with more senior scientists, amongst which several were invited from abroad. Here we provide a summary of the work presented at this occasion during the oral presentations and poster sessions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bacteriophage Genomes and Genomics: News from the Wild)

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