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Abstract
Bacteriophages of thermophiles are of increasing interest owing to their important roles in many biogeochemical, ecological processes and in biotechnology applications, including emerging bionanotechnology. However, due to lack of in-depth investigation, they are underrepresented in the known prokaryotic virosphere. Therefore, there is a considerable potential for the discovery of novel bacteriophage-host systems in various environments: marine and terrestrial hot springs, compost piles, soil, industrial hot waters, among others. This review aims at providing a reference compendium of thermophages characterized thus far, which infect the species of thermophilic ‘Bacillus group’ bacteria, mostly from Geobacillus sp. We have listed 56 thermophages, out of which the majority belong to the Siphoviridae family, others belong to the Myoviridae and Podoviridae families and, apparently, a few belong to the Sphaerolipoviridae, Tectiviridae or Corticoviridae families. All of their genomes are composed of dsDNA, either linear, circular or circularly permuted. Fourteen genomes have been sequenced; their sizes vary greatly from 35,055 bp to an exceptionally large genome of 160,590 bp. We have also included our unpublished data on TP-84, which infects Geobacillus stearothermophilus (G. stearothermophilus). Since the TP-84 genome sequence shows essentially no similarity to any previously characterized bacteriophage, we have defined TP-84 as a new species in the newly proposed genus Tp84virus within the Siphoviridae family. The information summary presented here may be helpful in comparative deciphering of the molecular basis of the thermophages’ biology, biotechnology and in analyzing the environmental aspects of the thermophages’ effect on the thermophile community.
Highlights
Bacterial viruses are the most abundant, genetically and evolutionary diversified biological entities in the biosphere [1]
We focus on a narrow segment of such bacteriophages, meeting two criteria: (i) those living in a moderately high temperature segment of approximately 45–70 ◦ C
JS005 was isolated from rotting straw, propagated on Bacillus thermophile RS 239 and yielding small 0.5–1 mm circular, slightly hazy plaques
Summary
Bacterial viruses (bacteriophages or phages) are the most abundant, genetically and evolutionary diversified biological entities in the biosphere [1]. Sharp et al (1986) have discovered and partially characterized 24 thermophilic bacteriophages, designated JS001-JS027, isolated from diversified sources: compost piles, soil, mud, sewage and river sludges, stable manure, silage and rotting straw, capable of infection of most of the major taxonomic groups of Bacillus thermophiles [21]. JS005 was isolated from rotting straw, propagated on Bacillus thermophile RS 239 and yielding small 0.5–1 mm circular, slightly hazy plaques.
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