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Genome Analysis of an Enterococcal Prophage, Entfac.MY

Maryam Yazdanizad1, Ramin Mazaheri Nezhad Fard2,3, Golshid Javdani Shahedin4

  • 1Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

Avicenna Journal of Medical Biotechnology
|September 5, 2022
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

This study analyzed the genome of an enterococcal prophage, identifying 254 genes including structural, regulatory, and lysis genes. Further research into unknown genes is needed to understand their role in antibiotic resistance.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Genomics
  • Bacteriophage Research

Background:

  • Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria, with lysogenic types integrating into host genomes as prophages.
  • Prophages can alter bacterial phenotypes and genotypes.
  • Enterococcus species are increasingly resistant to antibiotics like vancomycin, posing a significant health concern.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the genome of an enterococcal prophage.
  • To identify and characterize prophage genes within an Enterococcus faecium isolate.

Main Methods:

  • Isolation of Enterococcus faecium EntfacYE from biological samples.
  • Whole-genome sequencing using next-generation sequencing technology.
  • Annotation of identified prophage genes in the DNA Data Bank of Japan.

Main Results:

  • Identification of 254 prophage genes within the Enterococcus faecium genome.
  • Categorization of genes into housekeeping (39), replication/regulation (41), structural/packaging (80), and lysis (48) groups.
  • Discovery of 46 genes with unknown functions, representing 18.11% of the prophage genes.

Conclusions:

  • The majority of identified prophage genes are related to packaging and structure (31.5%).
  • The high proportion of genes with unknown functions highlights the need for further investigation.
  • Genomic analysis of prophages is crucial for understanding their role in antibiotic resistance and for developing novel therapeutic strategies.
Keywords:
Enterococcus faeciumGenomic analysisProphage

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