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Isolation and Genome Analysis of Single Virions using 'Single Virus Genomics'
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Complete genome analysis of an active prophage of Vibrio alginolyticus

Weinan Qin1,2, Dengfeng Li3, Lihua Xu4

  • 1Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China.

Archives of Virology
|January 17, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Researchers characterized the Vibrio phage ValM-yong1, isolated from pathogenic Vibrio alginolyticus. This Myoviridae family phage exhibits a unique flower-like head and genomic mosaicism, offering insights into viral diversity.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Virology
  • Genomics

Background:

  • Pathogenic Vibrio alginolyticus infections pose a significant public health concern.
  • Bacteriophages, viruses that infect bacteria, are crucial in regulating bacterial populations and can be sources of novel genetic material.
  • Understanding phage genomics is essential for phage therapy development and microbial ecology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To isolate and characterize an active prophage from pathogenic Vibrio alginolyticus.
  • To perform a detailed genomic characterization of the isolated Vibrio phage ValM-yong1.
  • To identify unique morphological and genomic features of the phage.

Main Methods:

  • Isolation of the active prophage (Vibrio phage ValM-yong1) using mitomycin C induction.
  • Morphological analysis of the phage, including head and tail dimensions.
  • Whole-genome sequencing and analysis to determine genome size, G+C content, and identify unique features.

Main Results:

  • Vibrio phage ValM-yong1, a member of the Myoviridae family, was successfully isolated.
  • The phage possesses a distinctive flower-like head (approx. 90 nm diameter) and a retractable tail (approx. 250 nm length).
  • The phage genome is 33,851 bp with a 45.6% G+C content, exhibiting genomic mosaicism.

Conclusions:

  • Vibrio phage ValM-yong1 represents a novel phage with unique morphological and genomic characteristics.
  • The genomic mosaicism observed in this phage highlights the dynamic nature of viral evolution.
  • Further studies on this phage could provide valuable insights into phage-host interactions and potential applications in biotechnology.

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