Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 7, 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

2.7K

Things Are Getting Hairy: Enterobacteria Bacteriophage vB_PcaM_CBB

Colin Buttimer1, Hanne Hendrix2, Hugo Oliveira3

  • 1Department of Biological Sciences, Cork Institute of Technology Cork, Ireland.

Frontiers in Microbiology
|February 9, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Enterobacteria phage vB_PcaM_CBB is a jumbo phage with unique tail structures and a broad host range. Its large genome and protein similarities offer insights into phage diversity and jumbo phage biology.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Virology
  • Genomics

Background:

  • Jumbo phages, members of the Myoviridae family, are large bacteriophages.
  • Enterobacteria phage vB_PcaM_CBB (phage CBB) is a newly characterized jumbo phage.
  • This phage exhibits unusual whisker-like structures on its contractile tail.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present a detailed analysis of the atypical jumbo phage vB_PcaM_CBB.
  • To compare phage CBB with other known phages to understand its biological significance.
  • To contribute to the understanding of phage diversity and jumbo phage biology.

Main Methods:

  • Genome sequencing and analysis of phage CBB.
  • Proteome analysis of phage CBB virions.
  • Comparative analysis of phage CBB proteins with related phages.

Main Results:

  • Phage CBB has a large genome (355,922 bp) encoding 554 ORFs.
  • It possesses unique whisker-like structures on its contractile tail.
  • Phage CBB shares 33-38% of its proteins with related phages like Cronobacter phage GAP32 and Klebsiella phage vB_KleM_Rak2.
  • It infects species within the Erwinia, Pectobacterium, and Cronobacter genera.

Conclusions:

  • Phage CBB represents a highly atypical jumbo myoviridae phage.
  • Its unique characteristics expand the known diversity of bacteriophages.
  • This study enhances our understanding of jumbo phage biology and evolution.
Keywords:
Jumbo bacteriophagePFGE analysisbacteriophagesbioinformaticsgenomehost rangemass spectrometrytransmission electron microscopy

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

3.5K
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

2.8K

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...
1.2K
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...
2.1K
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...
78.9K
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...
68.6K
Viral Replication: Lysogenic Cycle01:16

Viral Replication: Lysogenic Cycle

The lysogenic cycle is a crucial viral replication strategy that allows bacteriophages to persist within host cells without immediately destroying them. This process is primarily observed in temperate phages, such as bacteriophage lambda (λ), which infects Escherichia coli. The cycle allows the viral genome to persist across bacterial generations while keeping host cells viable.Integration of the Viral GenomeUpon infection, bacteriophage lambda attaches to the bacterial surface and injects...
2.1K
Bacterial Phylum Verrucomicrobiota01:26

Bacterial Phylum Verrucomicrobiota

The phylum Verrucomicrobiota comprises at least four characterized orders, with most species classified within the order Verrucomicrobiotales. Members of this phylum are either aerobic or facultatively aerobic, with the ability to ferment sugars. A notable exception is the genus Methylacidiphilum, which consists of aerobic methanotrophs. Additionally, some Verrucomicrobiota establish symbiotic relationships with protists. These bacteria are widely distributed across various environments,...
645