Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 14, 2026

Using a Bacterial Pathogen to Probe for Cellular and Organismic-level Host Responses
08:38

Using a Bacterial Pathogen to Probe for Cellular and Organismic-level Host Responses

Published on: February 22, 2019

Characterization of a temperate actinophage, MPphiWR-1, capable of infecting Micromonospora purpurea ATCC 15835

B C Tilley1, J L Meyertons, M P Lechevalier

  • 1Waksman Institute of Microbiology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08855-0759.

Journal of Industrial Microbiology
|April 1, 1990
PubMed

Insights

A novel temperate actinophage, MPphiWR-1, was isolated and characterized from Micromonospora purpurea. This phage exhibits lysogenic properties and a broad host range, indicating its potential as a cloning vector in actinomycete research.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Virology

Background:

  • Actinophages are viruses that infect actinomycetes, a group of bacteria important in antibiotic production.
  • Development of cloning vectors is crucial for genetic manipulation of actinomycetes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To isolate and characterize a temperate actinophage for potential use as a cloning vector.
  • To determine the phage's biological and genetic properties.

Main Methods:

  • Isolation of actinophage MPphiWR-1 from soil using Micromonospora purpurea as host.
  • Characterization of plaque morphology, lysogeny, host range, and phage morphology.
  • Genomic analysis including restriction site mapping and DNA length determination.
  • Isolation and mapping of deletion mutants.

Main Results:

  • MPphiWR-1 is a temperate actinophage forming turbid plaques and exhibiting lysogenic behavior (integration, superinfection resistance, inducibility).
  • The phage demonstrated a broad host range, infecting species within Micromonospora, Ampullariella, and Catellatospora genera.
  • Morphological analysis revealed an isometric head and flexible tail (B1 morphotype), with a density of 1.525 g/cc.
  • Phage DNA is 57.9 kb with cohesive ends; deletion mutants (≥3.5 kb) were generated and mapped. Non-liposome PEG-mediated transfection was successful.

Conclusions:

  • MPphiWR-1 is a well-characterized temperate actinophage with potential as a cloning vector.
  • Its lysogenic nature and broad host range make it a valuable tool for genetic studies of Micromonospora and related bacteria.

More Related Videos

An Adapted Optical Density-Based Microplate Assay for Characterizing Actinobacteriophage Infection03:33

An Adapted Optical Density-Based Microplate Assay for Characterizing Actinobacteriophage Infection

Published on: June 30, 2023

Environmental Sampling of Photosynthetic Microbes and Their Viruses: From Field to Lab08:01

Environmental Sampling of Photosynthetic Microbes and Their Viruses: From Field to Lab

Published on: July 3, 2025

Related Concept Videos

Bacterial Phylum Actinobacteria01:30

Bacterial Phylum Actinobacteria

Coryneform bacteria are gram-positive, aerobic, nonmotile rods that exhibit irregular, club-shaped, or V-shaped arrangements. Their V-shape results from snapping division, where the inner cell wall layer forms the cross-wall, while the outer layer remains intact until it ruptures on one side, causing the daughter cells to bend away.The primary genera are Corynebacterium and Arthrobacter. Corynebacterium includes diverse species, ranging from saprophytes to pathogens like Corynebacterium...
Bacterial Phylum Tenericutes01:24

Bacterial Phylum Tenericutes

The phylum Tenericutes, which includes the single class Mollicutes, comprises bacteria that lack cell walls. The term "Mollicutes" derives from the Latin word mollis, meaning "soft." These organisms are among the smallest known and are commonly referred to as mycoplasmas due to the prominence of the genus Mycoplasma, which includes well-known human pathogens. Despite their inability to stain gram-positively (a result of their lack of cell walls), mycoplasmas are phylogenetically related to the...
Fungal Phylum Microsporidia01:28

Fungal Phylum Microsporidia

Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular fungi that were initially classified as protists but were later reclassified based on phylogenetic, molecular, and structural evidence linking them to the Chytridiomycota. These unicellular, non-motile organisms are highly specialized parasites that infect a wide range of animal hosts, including humans. They have evolved extensive genomic and metabolic reductions, making them highly dependent on their hosts for survival.Morphology and Genomic...
DNA Bacteriophages01:26

DNA Bacteriophages

Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that specifically infect bacteria, utilizing their genetic material to hijack host cellular machinery for replication. DNA bacteriophages employ single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) or double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) genomes. These phages exhibit diverse replication strategies and host interactions, influencing their ecological roles and applications in biotechnology and medicine.ssDNA BacteriophagesssDNA phages, with their small genomes, utilize unique strategies to...