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Phage Phenomics: Physiological Approaches to Characterize Novel Viral Proteins
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Phage Phenomics: Physiological Approaches to Characterize Novel Viral Proteins

Published on: June 11, 2015

The Mycoplasma fermentans prophage phiMFV1: genome organization, mobility and variable expression of an encoded

K Röske1, M J Calcutt, K S Wise

  • 1Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO 65212, USA.

Molecular Microbiology
|June 10, 2004
PubMed

Insights

The Mycoplasma fermentans phiMFV1 prophage exhibits mobility and encodes a unique surface protein, Mem. Its similarity to phiMAV1 suggests a new prophage family crucial for mycoplasma adaptation.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Virology
  • Genomics

Background:

  • Mycoplasma fermentans harbors the phiMFV1 prophage, a mobile genetic element.
  • Prophages can influence host cell phenotype and genome evolution.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize the Mycoplasma fermentans phiMFV1 prophage.
  • To investigate its mobility, replication, and impact on the host's surface phenotype.
  • To establish its taxonomic relationship with other prophages.

Main Methods:

  • Genomic analysis of phiMFV1.
  • Tracking prophage integration and excision in M. fermentans strains.
  • Identification and characterization of open reading frames (ORFs) and encoded proteins, including the Mem protein.
  • Comparative proteomic and syntenic analysis with phiMAV1.

Main Results:

  • phiMFV1 is approximately 16 kb and integrates into M. fermentans chromosomes at specific target sites.
  • The prophage can excise, replicate as an extrachromosomal form, and be lost from the host genome.
  • phiMFV1 encodes 18 ORFs, including the unique surface protein Mem, which is expressed by the host.
  • phiMFV1 shares significant genomic and proteomic similarity with phiMAV1, supporting a new prophage family classification.
  • Prophage-encoded genes likely confer selectable phenotypic traits, aiding mycoplasma adaptation and survival.

Conclusions:

  • phiMFV1 is a mobile genetic element with implications for Mycoplasma evolution and host adaptation.
  • The discovery of phiMFV1 and its relationship to phiMAV1 establishes a new prophage family.
  • Prophage-derived surface proteins may play a role in the co-evolution of mycoplasmas with their hosts.

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