Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 6, 2026

Author Spotlight: Investigating Bacteriophage-Induced Immune Responses in Gnotobiotic Mice
08:46

Author Spotlight: Investigating Bacteriophage-Induced Immune Responses in Gnotobiotic Mice

Published on: January 26, 2024

2.8K

Narrow-host-range bacteriophages that infect Rhizobium etli associate with distinct genomic types

Rosa Isela Santamaría1, Patricia Bustos, Omar Sepúlveda-Robles

  • 1Programa de Genómica Evolutiva, Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, UNAM, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology
|November 5, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Researchers isolated and characterized 14 novel bacteriophages targeting Rhizobium etli, a key soil bacterium. These phages, discovered in Mexico, show potential for agricultural applications in legume cultivation.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Virology
  • Agricultural Science

Background:

  • Rhizobium etli is an important nitrogen-fixing bacterium crucial for legume cultivation.
  • Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that infect bacteria and can influence microbial populations.
  • Understanding phage diversity is essential for agricultural applications and microbial ecology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To isolate and characterize bacteriophages infecting Rhizobium etli.
  • To determine the genomic features and host range of these phages.
  • To explore the potential novelty of these bacteriophages.

Main Methods:

  • Isolation of bacteriophages from rhizosphere soil using enrichment techniques.
  • Characterization of phage host range against Rhizobium etli strains.
  • Whole-genome sequencing of selected bacteriophages.
  • Bioinformatic analysis of genomic data, including open reading frame identification.

Main Results:

  • Fourteen bacteriophages infecting Rhizobium etli were successfully isolated and characterized.
  • Phages exhibited a narrow but variable host range among 48 Rhizobium etli strains.
  • Genome sequencing revealed phage genome sizes ranging from 43 kb to 115 kb.
  • A significant portion of phage genes were hypothetical or orphan, with some encoding essential phage functions and bacterial genes.
  • Four phages displayed resistance to restriction enzymes, likely due to nucleotide modifications.
  • Phages were classified into four genomic types based on similarity, gene content, and host range.

Conclusions:

  • The isolated bacteriophages represent potentially novel species due to unique genomic sequences.
  • These novel phages could offer new tools for managing Rhizobium etli populations in agriculture.
  • Further research is warranted to explore the specific applications and biological roles of these phages.

More Related Videos

Bacteriophage Effectiveness for Biocontrol of Foodborne Pathogens Evaluated via High-Throughput Settings07:22

Bacteriophage Effectiveness for Biocontrol of Foodborne Pathogens Evaluated via High-Throughput Settings

Published on: August 19, 2021

3.1K
Phage-Mediated Genetic Manipulation of the Lyme Disease Spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi09:01

Phage-Mediated Genetic Manipulation of the Lyme Disease Spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi

Published on: September 28, 2022

2.5K

Related Concept Videos

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...
1.6K
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...
60.5K
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...
50.0K
Viral Replication: Lytic Cycle01:20

Viral Replication: Lytic Cycle

Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that specifically infect bacteria. Among them, T-even bacteriophages, such as T4, exhibit a well-characterized lytic replication cycle in Escherichia coli (E. coli). This process ensures the rapid proliferation of the virus while ultimately leading to the destruction of the bacterial host.Attachment and DNA InjectionThe infection process begins with the recognition and binding of the T4 phage to the E. coli cell surface. Tail fibers of the phage...
3.0K
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...
680
Bacterial Phylum Proteobacteria01:26

Bacterial Phylum Proteobacteria

Proteobacteria, one of the largest and most diverse bacterial phyla, encompasses a wide range of Gram-negative bacteria distinguished by their outer membrane composed of lipopolysaccharides. These microorganisms exhibit various metabolic capabilities, including phototrophy, chemolithotrophy, and heterotrophy, and thrive in diverse environments from soil to aquatic systems and host-associated niches. The phylum is divided into six classes: Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria,...
1.1K