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Identification and characterization of P2-like bacteriophages of Yersinia pestis

Zhizhen Qi1, Biao Meng2, Xiao Wei3

  • 1Qinghai Institute for Endemic Disease Prevention and Control of Qinghai Province, Key Laboratory for Plague Prevention and Control of Qinghai Province, Xining, China.

Virus Research
|September 28, 2022
PubMed

Insights

This study reports the first isolation of P2-like Yersinia pestis phages from Himalayan marmots in China. These findings advance understanding of Y. pestis phage diversity and evolution in natural plague foci.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Virology
  • Genomics

Background:

  • Yersinia pestis causes plague, a historically significant disease.
  • Marmota himalayana in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau are primary hosts in China's natural plague focus.
  • Previous characterization of Y. pestis phages exists, but P2-like phages from this host were unreported.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To isolate and characterize novel P2-like phages of Yersinia pestis from Marmota himalayana.
  • To analyze the genomic features of these newly isolated phages.
  • To investigate the role of Y. pestis LPS core structure in phage receptor binding.

Main Methods:

  • Isolation of Y. pestis phages from Marmota himalayana.
  • Phage characterization including genome sequencing.
  • Comparative genomic analysis with known phages.
  • Investigation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) core structure interactions.

Main Results:

  • Three novel P2-like Yersinia pestis phages, vB_YpM_22, vB_YpM_46, and vB_YpM_50, were successfully isolated.
  • Genomic analysis confirmed their classification within the non-lambdoid P2 family, showing high similarity to reference phages.
  • The study identified the significance of the Y. pestis LPS core structure as the phage receptor.

Conclusions:

  • This research provides the first report of P2-like Yersinia pestis phages isolated from Marmota himalayana.
  • The findings expand the knowledge of Y. pestis phage diversity and genomic characteristics.
  • Understanding these phages and their interactions is crucial for plague research and understanding phage evolution.
Keywords:
Marmota himalayanaP2-like phagesYersinia pestis

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