Abstract
A newly isolated bacteriophage infecting Enterococcus faecalis strains has been characterized, including determination of its molecular features. This phage, named vB_EfaS-271, has been classified as a Siphoviridae member, according to electron microscopy characterization of the virions, composed of a 50 nm-diameter head and a long, flexible, noncontractable tail (219 × 12.5 nm). Analysis of the whole dsDNA genome of this phage showed that it consists of 40,197 bp and functional modules containing genes coding for proteins that are involved in DNA replication (including DNA polymerase/primase), morphogenesis, packaging and cell lysis. Mass spectrometry analysis allowed us to identify several phage-encoded proteins. vB_EfaS-271 reveals a relatively narrow host range, as it is able to infect only a few E. faecalis strains. On the other hand, it is a virulent phage (unable to lysogenize host cells), effectively and quickly destroying cultures of sensitive host bacteria, with a latent period as short as 8 min and burst size of approximately 70 phages per cell at 37 °C. This phage was also able to destroy biofilms formed by E. faecalis. These results contribute to our understanding of the biodiversity of bacteriophages, confirming the high variability among these viruses and indicating specific genetic and functional features of vB_EfaS-271.
Highlights
It is estimated that bacteriophages are the most abundant biological entities on Earth, as their number is estimated to be approximately 1031 virions [1,2]
Bacteriophage vB_EfaS-271, infecting E. faecalis cells, was isolated from urban sewage, and its Bactecrhiaorapchtearigsteicvs,Bin_cElufdaiSn-g2m71ol,eicnulfaercptrionpgerEti.esf,aaerceaplirsesceenltlesd, iwn tahsisirseoploartt.eSdinfcreobmactuerriobpahnagseeswaraege, and its characteritshteicmso, sitnacbluunddianngt bmioloolgeiccaul leanrtitpiersoopnerEtaireths,aanrdepplaryescreuncitaeldroilnes tihnitshereepnvoirrto.nmSeinntc,escbieancctee, riophages medicine and industry, characterization of newly isolated phages is important, in light are the moofsot uarbiuncnodmapnlettebkionolowgleicdagle eabnotuittitehsesoenviEruasretsh[1a–n11d].play crucial roles in the environment, science, medicine andTihnediunvsetsrtyig, acthedarbaaccteerriiozpahtaigoenreovfenaledwalynairsroolwatheodstprahnaggee, assiist ismapbloerttoainntfe,cpt aorntliycauslamrallyl in light of our incomspublesetteokf nE.ofwaeclaeldisgsetraainbso. uOtntthheesoethveirrhuasneds, i[t1a–d1s1o]r.bs on the host cells very efficiently
Inttcaoinnsigstesnes coding for proteinofsgiennvesoclovdeidngifnorDpNutaAtivreeDpNlicAaptioolynm, emraosrepBh-liokgeepnroetseiins, bpifaucnkcatigoninalgDaNnAdpcriemllalsye/spiosl.ymerase, We steuwngzogyemensdetsotnihsuacrletelaatshtievese, DlhyeNlriacAareserinaenpbdlaipcctraeimrtiioaopsneh.aSmguecoshdwaunitlheexgpoeafnntodhmeedessvetBtho_aftEpafharaeSga-e2p-e7pnr1cooxgdiemendaotreemlpylei4ca0mtikoabny-irnbelesaitzoeedf. particular interest
Summary
It is estimated that bacteriophages are the most abundant biological entities on Earth, as their number is estimated to be approximately 1031 virions [1,2]. Reports from recent years indicated a high biodiversity of bacteriophages specific for E. faecalis strains Such reports can be exemplified by articles describing isolation and characterization of previously unknown phages of different properties [34,35,36,37,38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45], genetic modification of known phages and their use in experimental phage therapy (including effects on biofilms) [46,47], assessment of phages in therapy using animal models [48,49,50,51,52,53], and cloning of phage genes coding for specific lysins and characterization of the gene products in the light of killing E. faecalis cells [54,55,56,57,58,59,60]. A Symbols: (+) clear zones or (−) no plaques after infection of tested bacteria with vB_EfaS-271 bacteriophage
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