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Divergence and mosaicism among virulent soil phages of the Burkholderia cepacia complex

Elizabeth J Summer1, Carlos F Gonzalez, Morgan Bomer

  • 1Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2128, USA.

Journal of Bacteriology
|December 15, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Genomic sequencing of four Burkholderia cepacia phages reveals distinct evolutionary paths. Three phages (Bcep781 group) show high sequence identity, suggesting neutral drift, while another (BcepB1A) exhibits mosaic genome organization.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Genomics
  • Virology

Background:

  • The Burkholderia cepacia complex comprises opportunistic pathogens.
  • Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that infect bacteria and play roles in bacterial evolution.
  • Understanding phage genomics is crucial for their potential therapeutic applications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine and analyze the genomic sequences of four virulent myophages infecting Burkholderia cepacia.
  • To investigate the evolutionary relationships and genome organization of these phages.
  • To identify phage genes and their functions, particularly those involved in host interaction and genome maintenance.

Main Methods:

  • Whole-genome sequencing of four myophages (Bcep1, Bcep43, BcepB1A, Bcep781).
  • Comparative genomic analysis to assess sequence identity and genome organization.
  • Bioinformatic prediction of gene functions.
  • Lambda repressor fusion technique to identify protein-protein interactions.

Main Results:

  • Three phages (Bcep781 group) share 87-99% sequence identity, with differences attributed to neutral genetic drift.
  • Phage BcepB1A displays a mosaic genome structure, distinct from the Bcep781 group.
  • Functions were assigned to 27 of 71 predicted genes in Bcep1.
  • Ten Bcep781-group proteins were identified as capable of homotypic interactions.
  • Unusual organization of DNA metabolism and host lysis genes in Bcep781-like phages.
  • Evidence of lateral gene transfer between Bcep781 phages and unrelated phages.

Conclusions:

  • The Bcep781-like phages maintain a unified genomic type possibly due to unusual genome arrangement.
  • Despite sequence divergence, conserved gene order exists for head and tail morphogenesis.
  • Lateral gene transfer contributes to the mosaic nature of tailed phage genomes.
  • Phage BcepB1A represents a distinct lineage with a mosaic genome, highlighting phage genomic plasticity.

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