First complete genome sequence of a virulent bacteriophage infecting the opportunistic pathogen Serratia rubidaea

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Virology
• Genomics

Background:

• Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria and are increasingly explored for therapeutic applications.
• The emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria necessitates the discovery of novel antimicrobial agents, including bacteriophages.
• Hospital sewage can serve as a reservoir for diverse bacterial and viral communities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To isolate and characterize a novel bacteriophage infecting Serratia rubidaea.
• To determine the genomic features and taxonomic classification of the isolated phage.
• To assess the potential of the phage for further research and application.

Main Methods:

• Isolation of bacteriophage from hospital sewage.
• Morphological characterization using electron microscopy.
• High-throughput sequencing for whole-genome analysis.
• Bioinformatic analysis to identify coding sequences and assess genomic similarity.

Main Results:

• Isolation of a novel Serratia rubidaea phage, designated vB_Sru IME250.
• Morphological analysis suggested classification within the Myoviridae family.
• The phage genome is linear, double-stranded DNA (154,938 bp) with 193 predicted coding sequences.
• Genomic analysis revealed 40.04% GC content and 84% similarity to Klebsiella phage 0507-KN2-1.

Conclusions:

• vB_Sru IME250 is a novel Myoviridae family phage with a distinct genomic profile.
• The characterized phage represents a potential candidate for further investigation in phage therapy against Serratia rubidaea infections.
• Genomic data provides a foundation for understanding phage-host interactions and developing phage-based interventions.