Complete genomic sequence of the Lactobacillus temperate phage LF1

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Virology
• Genomics

Background:

• Lactobacillus fermentum is a probiotic bacterium found in fermented foods.
• Temperate bacteriophages play roles in bacterial evolution and can be used in phage therapy.
• Characterizing novel phages provides insights into microbial ecosystems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To perform the first genomic sequencing and characterization of bacteriophage LF1.
• To analyze the genetic makeup and morphological features of LF1.
• To understand the phylogenetic relationship of LF1 with other phages.

Main Methods:

• Isolation of bacteriophage LF1 from a mitomycin-C-induced lysate of Lactobacillus fermentum.
• Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for morphological analysis.
• Bioinformatic analysis of the double-stranded DNA genome to identify open reading frames (ORFs) and predict protein products.

Main Results:

• Bacteriophage LF1 possesses a double-strand DNA genome of 42,606 base pairs with a 45% G+C content.
• The genome contains 57 putative open reading frames (ORFs) with described predicted protein products.
• Morphological analysis confirmed LF1 belongs to the Siphoviridae family, featuring an isometric head and non-contractile tail.
• LF1 shows a genetic mosaic relationship with phage ΦPYB5 in the packaging module.

Conclusions:

• This study reports the first complete genomic sequence and characterization of temperate bacteriophage LF1.
• The findings contribute to the understanding of temperate phage diversity in Lactobacillus species.
• The genetic and morphological data provide a foundation for future studies on LF1's biological functions and potential applications.