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Pantoea Bacteriophage vB_PagS_MED16-A Siphovirus Containing a 2'-Deoxy-7-amido-7-deazaguanosine-Modified DNA

Monika Šimoliūnienė1, Emilija Žukauskienė1, Lidija Truncaitė1

  • 1Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Institute of Biochemistry, Life Sciences Centre, Vilnius University, Saulėtekio av. 7, LT-10257 Vilnius, Lithuania.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|July 24, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Researchers discovered a novel siphovirus, vB_PagS_MED16, infecting Pantoea agglomerans. This bacteriophage possesses a unique genome with novel proteins and a rare DNA modification, expanding our understanding of phage diversity.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Microbiology
  • Genomics

Background:

  • Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria and play crucial roles in microbial ecosystems.
  • Pantoea agglomerans is an important plant-associated bacterium, and understanding its phages is vital for agricultural applications.
  • The diversity of bacteriophages, particularly those infecting Gram-negative bacteria like Pantoea, is continually being explored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To isolate and characterize a novel bacteriophage infecting Pantoea agglomerans.
  • To analyze the genomic features and phylogenetic placement of the newly discovered phage.
  • To investigate unique genetic elements and DNA modifications within the phage genome.

Main Methods:

  • Isolation and propagation of bacteriophage vB_PagS_MED16 using Pantoea agglomerans.
  • Whole-genome sequencing and bioinformatic analysis of the phage genome.
  • Comparative sequence analysis and phylogenetic studies.
  • Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for DNA modification analysis.

Main Results:

  • Isolation of a novel siphovirus, vB_PagS_MED16, from Lithuania.
  • The MED16 genome (46,103 bp) contains 73 open reading frames (ORFs), with 26 encoding unique proteins.
  • Phylogenetic analysis indicates MED16 represents a new siphovirus genus.
  • Discovery of a gene for preQ0 DNA deoxyribosyltransferase (DpdA) and experimental validation of 2'-deoxy-7-amido-7-deazaguanosine (dADG) modified DNA, a novel finding in Pantoea phages.

Conclusions:

  • vB_PagS_MED16 is a novel siphovirus, expanding the known diversity of viruses infecting Pantoea agglomerans.
  • The phage genome encodes unique proteins and a rare DNA modification (dADG), offering new insights into phage evolution and biochemistry.
  • This study contributes valuable information to the field of bacteriophage research and phage-host interactions.
Keywords:
2′-deoxy-7-amido-7-deazaguanosine (dADG)DNA modificationsDpdAPantoea agglomeransbacteriophagesiphovirusvB_PagS_MED16

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