Genome sequence of the novel freshwater Microcystis cyanophage Mwe-Yong1112-1

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Virology
• Aquatic Ecology

Background:

• Cyanophages are viruses that infect cyanobacteria, playing crucial roles in aquatic ecosystems.
• Understanding cyanophage diversity is essential for comprehending microbial dynamics and biogeochemical cycles.
• The freshwater cyanophage Mwe-Yong1112-1 was isolated and characterized.

Purpose of the Study:

• To isolate and characterize a novel freshwater cyanophage.
• To determine the genomic and morphological features of the cyanophage.
• To investigate the evolutionary placement of the cyanophage within the broader viral landscape.

Main Methods:

• Isolation of cyanophage Mwe-Yong1112-1 using Microcystis wesenbergii as a host.
• Morphological characterization via electron microscopy (head and tail dimensions).
• Whole-genome sequencing and analysis (genome size, G+C content).
• Comparative genomic analysis (Average Nucleotide Identity - ANI) and phylogenetic analysis (proteomic tree).

Main Results:

• Cyanophage Mwe-Yong1112-1 possesses an icosahedral head (45 nm) and a flexible tail (133 nm x 4.5 nm).
• The cyanophage genome is 39,679 bp with 66.6% G+C content.
• Low ANI (67.7%) and sequence similarity (17.48%) indicate Mwe-Yong1112-1 is distinct at species and genus levels.
• Proteomic analysis places Mwe-Yong1112-1 in a novel evolutionary lineage separate from known families.

Conclusions:

• Mwe-Yong1112-1 represents a new evolutionary lineage of freshwater cyanophages.
• The findings contribute valuable data to the study of cyanophage diversity.
• This research enhances the knowledge base of viruses impacting cyanobacteria in freshwater ecosystems.