Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 23, 2026

Phage-Mediated Genetic Manipulation of the Lyme Disease Spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi
09:01

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

Published on: September 28, 2022

2.7K

Pf16 and phiPMW: Expanding the realm of Pseudomonas putida bacteriophages

Damian J Magill1, Victor N Krylov2, Olga V Shaburova2

  • 1Queen's University Belfast, School of Biological Sciences, Medical Biology Centre, Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Plos One
|September 7, 2017
PubMed

Insights

We analyzed two novel Pseudomonas phages, pf16 and phiPMW. These findings reveal new phage clades and highlight extensive gene transfer in Pseudomonas phage evolution.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Virology
  • Genomics

Background:

  • Pseudomonas putida phages are crucial for understanding bacterial evolution.
  • Novel phages offer insights into phage diversity and host interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze and characterize two newly discovered Pseudomonas putida phages, pf16 and phiPMW.
  • To determine the phylogenetic positions and evolutionary histories of these novel phages.

Main Methods:

  • Genomic analysis of pf16 and phiPMW.
  • Phylogenetic analysis to determine evolutionary relationships.
  • Comparative genomics to identify novel genes and evolutionary events.

Main Results:

  • Pf16 is a T4-like phage with potential cyanophage origins, forming a new phage clade.
  • PhiPMW is a novel phage with a unique genome, shaped by gene transfer and vertical evolution.
  • Both phages show distinct evolutionary paths, with pf16 linked to Schizo T-Evens and Exo T-Evens, and phiPMW to FelixO1-related viruses.

Conclusions:

  • Pf16 represents a significant discovery as the first T4-like phage infecting a Pseudomonad, expanding known phage diversity.
  • PhiPMW's novel genome underscores the role of horizontal gene transfer and vertical evolution in shaping phage genomes.
  • These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of Pseudomonas phage evolution and diversity.

More Related Videos

Understanding the Impact of Temperate Bacteriophages on Their Lysogens Through Transcriptomics09:23

Understanding the Impact of Temperate Bacteriophages on Their Lysogens Through Transcriptomics

Published on: January 5, 2024

2.6K
Phage Phenomics: Physiological Approaches to Characterize Novel Viral Proteins09:40

Phage Phenomics: Physiological Approaches to Characterize Novel Viral Proteins

Published on: June 11, 2015

12.9K

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
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
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...
78.4K
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...
68.2K