Open AccessCharacterization of a T5-Like Coliphage, SPC35, and Differential Development of Resistance to SPC35 in Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium and Escherichia coli
Author(s) -
Minsik Kim,
Sangryeol Ryu
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
applied and environmental microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.552
H-Index - 324
eISSN - 1070-6291
pISSN - 0099-2240
DOI - 10.1128/aem.02504-10
Subject(s) - biology , microbiology and biotechnology , salmonella enterica , escherichia coli , bacteriophage , virulence , siphoviridae , salmonella , serotype , coliphage , pathogenicity island , gene , bacteria , genetics
The potential of bacteriophage as an alternative biocontrol agent has recently been revisited due to the widespread occurrence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. We isolated a virulent bacteriophage, SPC35, that can infect bothSalmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium andEscherichia coli . Morphological analysis by transmission electron microscopy and analysis of its 118,351-bp genome revealed that SPC35 is a T5 group phage belonging to the familySiphoviridae . BtuB, the outer membrane protein for vitamin B12 uptake, was found to be a host receptor for SPC35. Interestingly, resistant mutants of bothE. coli andS. Typhimurium developed faster than our expectation when the cultures were infected with SPC35. Investigation of thebtuB gene revealed that it was disrupted by the IS2 insertion sequence element in most of the resistantE. coli isolates. In contrast, we could not detect anybtuB gene mutations in the resistantS. Typhimurium isolates; these isolates easily regained sensitivity to SPC35 in its absence, suggesting phase-variable phage resistance/sensitivity. These results indicate that a cocktail of phages that target different receptors on the pathogen should be more effective for successful biocontrol.