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Prophages of the genus B ifidobacterium as modulating agents of the infant gut microbiota
Author(s) -
Lugli Gabriele Andrea,
Milani Christian,
Turroni Francesca,
Tremblay Denise,
Ferrario Chiara,
Mancabelli Leonardo,
Duranti Sabrina,
Ward Doyle V.,
Ossiprandi Maria Cristina,
Moineau Sylvain,
Sinderen Douwe,
Ventura Marco
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
environmental microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.954
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1462-2920
pISSN - 1462-2912
DOI - 10.1111/1462-2920.13154
Subject(s) - biology , prophage , microbiome , genome , gut flora , bifidobacterium , evolutionary biology , microbiology and biotechnology , bacterial genome size , bacteriophage , metagenomics , genus , genetics , bacteria , zoology , lactobacillus , gene , escherichia coli , immunology
Summary Phage predation is one of the key forces that shape genetic diversity in bacterial genomes. Phages are also believed to act as modulators of the microbiota composition and, consequently, as agents that drive bacterial speciation in complex bacterial communities. Very little is known about the occurrence and genetic variability of (pro)phages within the B ifidobacterium genus, a dominant bacterial group of the human infant microbiota. Here, we performed cataloguing of the predicted prophage sequences from the genomes of all currently recognized bifidobacterial type strains. We analysed their genetic diversity and deduced their evolutionary development, thereby highlighting an intriguing origin. Furthermore, we assessed infant gut microbiomes for the presence of (pro)phage sequences and found compelling evidence that these viral elements influence the composition of bifidobacterial communities in the infant gut microbiota.