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Isolation and characterization of a T4‐like phage with a relatively wide host range within Escherichia coli
Author(s) -
Xu Juntian,
Chen Mianmian,
He Lingchen,
Zhang Shuqing,
Ding Tianyun,
Yao Huochun,
Lu Chengping,
Zhang Wei
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of basic microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.58
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1521-4028
pISSN - 0233-111X
DOI - 10.1002/jobm.201500440
Subject(s) - myoviridae , lytic cycle , biology , phage therapy , genome , escherichia coli , bacteriophage , virulence , microbiology and biotechnology , pathogenic escherichia coli , dna , orfs , genetics , host (biology) , gene , virology , virus , open reading frame , peptide sequence
Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) causes colibacillosis in poultry, resulting in severe economic losses worldwide. Coliphages represent alternative antibacterial substitutes based on high lytic efficiency and few side‐effects. However, the complete genome sequences information of APEC phages are limited, and knowledge of undesired genes and the narrow host range restrict their applications. In this study, we isolated a virulent phage QL01, with a relatively broad lytic spectrum (41 of 78 APEC strains). Transmission electron micrography showed it belonged to the family Myoviridae with an elongated head and a contractile tail. Whole genome sequencing revealed a linear double‐stranded DNA (170,527 kb; GC content, 39.6%) with 275 possible ORFs. Comparative genome analysis revealed high homology between QL01 and other T4‐like phages. However, it also showed some unique features, for example, ORF142 and ORF143, which encode IP9 and IP8, respectively, and may counteract host resistance only exist in a few T4‐like phages such as IME08 and vB_EcoM_VR5. Furthermore, phage therapy in artificially infected ducks showed a 26.67% decrease in mortality compared with the untreated group. Our study indicates the potential antibacterial function of phage QL01 against APEC infections and highlights unique molecular features underlying the relatively broad host range.