Abstract
BackgroundComparatively little information is available on members of the Myoviridae infecting low G+C content, Gram-positive host bacteria of the family Firmicutes. While numerous Bacillus phages have been isolated up till now only very few Bacillus cereus phages have been characterized in detail.ResultsHere we present data on the large, virulent, broad-host-range B. cereus phage vB_BceM_Bc431v3 (Bc431v3). Bc431v3 features a 158,618 bp dsDNA genome, encompassing 239 putative open reading frames (ORFs) and, 20 tRNA genes encoding 17 different amino acids. Since pulsed-field gel electrophoresis indicated that the genome of this phage has a mass of 155-158 kb Bc431v3 DNA appears not to contain long terminal repeats that are found in the genome of Bacillus phage SPO1.ConclusionsBc431v3 displays significant sequence similarity, at the protein level, to B. cereus phage BCP78, Listeria phage A511 and Enterococcus phage ØEF24C and other morphologically related phages infecting Firmicutes such as Staphylococcus phage K and Lactobacillus phage LP65. Based on these data we suggest that Bc431v3 should be included as a member of the Spounavirinae; however, because of all the diverse taxonomical information has been addressed recently, it is difficult to determine the genus. The Bc431v3 phage contains some highly unusual genes such as gp143 encoding putative tRNAHis guanylyltransferase. In addition, it carries some genes that appear to be related to the host sporulation regulators. These are: gp098, which encodes a putative segregation protein related to FstK/SpoIIIE DNA transporters; gp105, a putative segregation protein; gp108, RNA polymerase sigma factor F/B; and, gp109 encoding RNA polymerase sigma factor G.
Highlights
Little information is available on members of the Myoviridae infecting low G+C content, Gram-positive host bacteria of the family Firmicutes
With the exception of phages AP50, AP50-04, AP50-11, AP50-23, AP50-26, AP50-27, and Bam35 which belong to the family of Tectiviridae [12,13], all other Bacillus phages belong to the three tailed phage families: Myoviridae, Siphoviridae and Podoviridae
Isolation and morphology of Bc431v3 Phage Bc431v3 was isolated from sewage and produced small (1.8 mm) clear plaques with turbid borders on B. cereus strain LJH431
Summary
Little information is available on members of the Myoviridae infecting low G+C content, Gram-positive host bacteria of the family Firmicutes. With the exception of phages AP50, AP50-04, AP50-11, AP50-23, AP50-26, AP50-27, and Bam which belong to the family of Tectiviridae [12,13], all other Bacillus phages belong to the three tailed phage families: Myoviridae, Siphoviridae and Podoviridae. They range from very large viruses such as the G, to very small phages such as φ29 and φ15. All of the Bacillus phages possess dsDNA, and some of them are quite distinct as they contain unusual bases in their DNA. As far as we know the DNA of these phages is not modified
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
