Sequence analysis of the Lactobacillus temperate phage Sha1

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Virology
• Genomics

Background:

• Lactobacillus plantarum is a common bacterium found in fermented foods like kimchi.
• Temperate bacteriophages play crucial roles in bacterial population dynamics and evolution.
• Characterization of novel phages can provide insights into microbial ecosystems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To isolate and characterize a novel temperate bacteriophage from Lactobacillus plantarum found in kimchi.
• To perform genomic sequencing and bioinformatic analysis of the isolated bacteriophage, named Sha1.
• To classify bacteriophage Sha1 based on its genomic and morphological features.

Main Methods:

• Isolation of bacteriophage Sha1 from a mitomycin-C-induced lysate of Lactobacillus plantarum.
• Morphological characterization using electron microscopy (head and tail dimensions).
• Genomic sequencing and bioinformatic analysis to determine genome size, G+C content, and identify open reading frames (ORFs).

Main Results:

• Bacteriophage Sha1 exhibits an isometric head (58 nm × 60 nm) and a long tail (259 nm × 11 nm).
• The double-stranded DNA genome of Sha1 is 41,726 base pairs with a 40.61% G+C content.
• Bioinformatic analysis revealed 58 putative open reading frames (ORFs), supporting classification within the Siphoviridae family.

Conclusions:

• Bacteriophage Sha1 is a newly identified temperate phage belonging to the Siphoviridae family.
• This study provides the first report on the genomic sequencing and characterization of Sha1.
• The findings contribute to the understanding of bacteriophages associated with Lactobacillus plantarum in kimchi.