Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Site-specific Bacterial Chromosome Engineering: ΦC31 Integrase Mediated Cassette Exchange (IMCE)
08:21

Site-specific Bacterial Chromosome Engineering: ΦC31 Integrase Mediated Cassette Exchange (IMCE)

Published on: March 16, 2012

A Study of 33 Bacteriophages of Rhizobium meliloti

Michel Werquin1, Hans-Wolfang Ackermann, Roger C Levesque

  • 1Laboratoire de Microbiologie Appliquée, Institut Agricole et Alimentaire de Lille, Université des Sciences et Techniques de Lille, 59655 Villeneuve d'Ascq, France, and Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec 10, Quebec, Canada G1K 7P4.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology
|January 1, 1988
PubMed

Insights

This study characterized 33 Rhizobium meliloti bacteriophages, revealing diverse morphotypes and host ranges. One novel Siphoviridae phage, phiM11S, represents a new species, expanding our understanding of these important bacterial viruses.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Virology
  • Bacteriology

Background:

  • Rhizobium meliloti bacteriophages are crucial for regulating bacterial populations in soil.
  • Understanding phage diversity is essential for agricultural applications and microbial ecology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize a collection of Rhizobium meliloti bacteriophages.
  • To identify novel phage species and understand their genomic diversity.

Main Methods:

  • Isolation of phages from soil and bacterial cultures.
  • Characterization using morphology, host range, serology, restriction endonuclease analysis, and DNA-DNA hybridization.
  • Estimation of DNA molecular weights.

Main Results:

  • Five distinct bacteriophage morphotypes were identified, primarily Siphoviridae, Myoviridae, and Podoviridae.
  • Soil-isolated phages exhibited broad host ranges, while culture-isolated phages had narrower ranges.
  • DNA analysis confirmed genomic diversity, with one phage (phiM11S) identified as a new species.

Conclusions:

  • Rhizobium meliloti bacteriophages display significant morphological and genomic diversity.
  • The identification of a new phage species highlights the ongoing discovery potential in microbial communities.
  • These findings contribute to the knowledge base of bacteriophages relevant to Medicago sativa cultivation.

More Related Videos

Isolation and Genome Analysis of Single Virions using 'Single Virus Genomics'08:31

Isolation and Genome Analysis of Single Virions using 'Single Virus Genomics'

Published on: May 26, 2013

Single-plant, Sterile Microcosms for Nodulation and Growth of the Legume Plant Medicago truncatula with the Rhizobial Symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti20:01

Single-plant, Sterile Microcosms for Nodulation and Growth of the Legume Plant Medicago truncatula with the Rhizobial Symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti

Published on: October 1, 2013

Related Concept Videos

Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages01:30

Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages

Bacteriophages, also known as phages, are specialized viruses that infect bacteria. A key characteristic of phages is their distinctive “head-tail” morphology. A phage begins the infection process (i.e., lytic cycle) by attaching to the outside of a bacterial cell. Attachment is accomplished via proteins in the phage tail that bind to specific receptor proteins on the outer surface of the bacterium. The tail injects the phage’s DNA genome into the bacterial cytoplasm. In the lytic replication...
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...
Bacteriophages of the Human Virome01:23

Bacteriophages of the Human Virome

Bacteriophages are found throughout the human body. They may even outnumber eukaryotic viruses, forming an important and dynamic component of the human virome. Indeed, phages represent the most abundant viral entities, with densities in the gut reaching up to 10⁹ particles per gram of fecal matter, and many belonging to orders such as Caudovirales and Microviridae, while a substantial proportion remains unclassified as viral “dark matter.”Lysogeny and Genetic ExchangeIn the gut, bacteriophages...
Lysogenic Cycle of Bacteriophages00:43

Lysogenic Cycle of Bacteriophages

In contrast to the lytic cycle, phages infecting bacteria via the lysogenic cycle do not immediately kill their host cell. Instead, they combine their genome with the host genome, allowing the bacteria to replicate the phage DNA along with the bacterial genome. The incorporated copy of the phage genome is called the prophage. Some prophages can re-activate and enter the lytic cycle. This often occurs in response to a perturbation, such as DNA damage, but can also transpire in the absence of...
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...
Microbe-Plant Interactions01:09

Microbe-Plant Interactions

Microbe-plant interactions represent a dynamic spectrum of associations shaped by intricate chemical signaling. These interactions can be neutral, beneficial, or detrimental, and profoundly influence plant physiology, growth, and ecosystem function. The plant microbiome, comprising bacteria, fungi, archaea, protists, and viruses, plays a pivotal role in mediating these effects through surface colonization, internal colonization, or systemic symbiosis.Mutualistic associations, particularly with...