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Bacteriophages F0lac h, SR, SF: phages which adsorb to pili encoded by plasmids of the S-complex

J N Coetzee, D E Bradley, R W Hedges

    Journal of General Microbiology
    |October 1, 1986
    PubMed

    Insights

    Researchers identified a new group of plasmids, designated S, based on bacteriophage host ranges and pili serology. This discovery advances our understanding of plasmid compatibility and bacterial conjugation systems.

    Area of Science:

    • Microbiology
    • Virology
    • Molecular Biology

    Background:

    • Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria and can be used to study bacterial surface structures like pili.
    • Plasmids are extrachromosomal DNA elements that can confer traits such as antibiotic resistance and influence phage host range.
    • Conjugative pili are protein appendages involved in bacterial DNA transfer and can serve as phage receptors.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To characterize bacteriophages targeting strains with specific plasmids.
    • To investigate the relationship between plasmid type, pili structure, and phage host range.
    • To determine if certain plasmids form a new compatibility group.

    Main Methods:

    • Isolation and characterization of bacteriophages (F0lac, F0lac h, SR, SF) with defined host ranges.
    • Host range determination of phages on bacterial strains carrying different plasmids (EDP208, pPLS::Tn5, TP224::Tn10, R71).
    • Assessment of plasmid compatibility and pili serological relatedness.

    Main Results:

    • Phage F0lac h and SR exhibited similar host ranges, adsorbing to conjugative pili.
    • Filamentous phage SF had a broad host range, infecting strains with various plasmid types.
    • Four plasmids (EDP208, R71, TP224::Tn10, pPLS::Tn5) were found to be compatible, suggesting a new plasmid complex designated S.

    Conclusions:

    • The host ranges of bacteriophages correlate with the type of pili encoded by plasmids.
    • The serological relatedness of pili and phage adsorption patterns support the classification of a new plasmid complex.
    • This study establishes a new plasmid compatibility group, S, based on phage-plasmid interactions.

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