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Identification of Virulence Markers of Mycobacterium abscessus for Intracellular Replication in Phagocytes
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Genome Sequence of Mycobacterium abscessus Phage phiT46-1

Elizabeth D Amarh1, Rebekah M Dedrick1, Rebecca A Garlena1

  • 1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.

Microbiology Resource Announcements
|January 15, 2021
PubMed

Insights

A novel Mycobacterium abscessus phage, phiT46-1, was discovered. Its unique genome and toxin-immunity cassette suggest new insights into mycobacteriophage diversity and type VII secretion systems.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Virology
  • Genomics

Background:

  • Mycobacteriophages are viruses that infect Mycobacterium species.
  • Understanding mycobacteriophage diversity is crucial for developing phage-based therapies against Mycobacterium infections.
  • Mycobacterium abscessus is an opportunistic pathogen that can cause severe lung infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize a newly isolated mycobacteriophage, designated phiT46-1.
  • To investigate the genetic makeup and potential functions of phiT46-1.
  • To determine the relationship of phiT46-1 to other known mycobacteriophages.

Main Methods:

  • Isolation of phiT46-1 from Mycobacterium abscessus strain Taiwan-46.
  • Genome sequencing of phiT46-1 (52,849 bp).
  • Bioinformatic analysis to identify genetic features and compare with known phages.

Main Results:

  • PhiT46-1 was isolated by spontaneous release from M. abscessus.
  • The phage infects M. abscessus strain BWH-C.
  • PhiT46-1 possesses a unique genome unrelated to previously described mycobacteriophages.
  • A polymorphic toxin-immunity cassette associated with type VII secretion systems was identified in the phage genome.

Conclusions:

  • Mycobacteriophage phiT46-1 represents a novel lineage of mycobacteriophages.
  • The identified toxin-immunity cassette may play a role in phage-host interactions or virulence.
  • Further studies on phiT46-1 could provide insights into mycobacterial pathogenesis and phage evolution.

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