Complete genome sequence of Serratia plymuthica bacteriophage ΦMAM1

Area of Science:

• Microbiology and Virology
• Bacteriophage Research
• Genomic Analysis

Background:

• Serratia plymuthica is an opportunistic pathogen.
• Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria and are potential tools for combating bacterial infections.
• Characterization of novel bacteriophages is crucial for understanding phage diversity and potential applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To isolate and characterize a novel virulent bacteriophage targeting Serratia plymuthica.
• To determine the genomic features of the isolated bacteriophage.
• To compare the ΦMAM1 genome with known bacteriophage genomes.

Main Methods:

• Isolation of bacteriophages from environmental samples.
• Bacterial host range determination.
• Transmission electron microscopy for morphology.
• Whole-genome sequencing and bioinformatic analysis.

Main Results:

• A virulent bacteriophage, designated ΦMAM1, was successfully isolated and identified as a ΦMAM1 infecting Serratia plymuthica.
• ΦMAM1 possesses a circular double-stranded DNA genome of 157,834 base pairs.
• The genome encodes 198 proteins and 3 tRNAs, exhibiting significant homology to ViI-like enterobacterial bacteriophages.

Conclusions:

• ΦMAM1 represents a newly characterized virulent bacteriophage with potential applications in phage therapy against Serratia plymuthica.
• The genomic data provides insights into the evolution and diversity of enterobacterial bacteriophages.
• Further studies are warranted to explore the lytic activity and therapeutic potential of ΦMAM1.