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Phage Phenomics: Physiological Approaches to Characterize Novel Viral Proteins
Published on: June 11, 2015
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Characterization of two polyvalent phages infecting Enterobacteriaceae
Sana Hamdi1,2, Geneviève M Rousseau3, Simon J Labrie3
1Laboratoire des Microorganismes et Biomolécules Actives, Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, 2092 Tunis, Tunisie.
Scientific Reports
|January 17, 2017
Summary
Two novel bacteriophages, SH6 and SH7, were isolated from Shigella flexneri. These phages exhibit distinct characteristics and broad host ranges within the Enterobacteriaceae family, indicating potential for bacterial population control.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Virology
- Genetics
Background:
- Bacteriophages exhibit significant genetic diversity and host specificity.
- The Enterobacteriaceae family presents an interesting group for phage study due to related yet distinct hosts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and characterize novel virulent bacteriophages infecting Shigella flexneri.
- To evaluate the morphological, genomic, and microbiological properties of isolated phages.
- To assess the host range and potential applications of these phages in bacterial control.
Main Methods:
- Isolation and characterization of virulent bacteriophages.
- Morphological and genomic analyses for phage classification.
- Determination of latent period and burst size.
- Assessment of phage stability under varying pH conditions.
- Host range determination across 35 bacterial strains.
Main Results:
- Two novel virulent phages, SH6 (Siphoviridae, T1virus genus) and SH7 (Myoviridae, T4virus genus), were identified.
- SH6 exhibited a 16 min latent period and 103 PFU/cell burst size, while SH7 had a 23 min latent period and 26 PFU/cell burst size.
- SH6 was acid-sensitive (pH < 5), whereas SH7 remained stable from pH 3 to 11.
- SH6 infected Shigella flexneri and 8 E. coli strains. SH7 infected E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella Paratyphi, and Shigella dysenteriae.
Conclusions:
- The characterized phages SH6 and SH7 possess distinct biological and genomic properties.
- Their broad host ranges and stability suggest potential utility in therapeutic applications and bacterial population management within the Enterobacteriaceae family.
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