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Phage Phenomics: Physiological Approaches to Characterize Novel Viral Proteins
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Phage Phenomics: Physiological Approaches to Characterize Novel Viral Proteins

Published on: June 11, 2015

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Characterization of a new Pseudomonas aeruginosa Queuovirinae bacteriophage

Lauren E Whiteley1,2, Marvin Whiteley1,2

  • 1School of Biological Sciences, Center for Microbial Dynamics and Infection, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

Microbiology Spectrum
|February 12, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Researchers discovered a new bacteriophage, PIP, that infects the problematic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This pili-infecting phage, with a unique genome, offers a novel therapeutic avenue for difficult-to-treat infections.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology and Virology
  • Bacteriophage Therapy
  • Antimicrobial Resistance Research

Background:

  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a significant ESKAPEE pathogen causing chronic and acute infections.
  • Infections are often resistant to antibiotics due to resistance and tolerance mechanisms.
  • Bacteriophage therapy is a promising alternative for treating P. aeruginosa infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To isolate and characterize novel bacteriophages targeting P. aeruginosa.
  • To investigate the receptor specificity of newly identified phages.
  • To expand the diversity of known phages for potential therapeutic applications.

Main Methods:

  • Isolation and characterization of a lytic bacteriophage, termed PIP, from P. aeruginosa PA14.
  • Genomic sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the PIP phage.
  • Isolation and characterization of P. aeruginosa mutants resistant to PIP to identify the phage receptor.

Main Results:

  • A novel lytic phage, PIP, with a 57,462 bp genome was isolated and characterized.
  • Phylogenetic analysis placed PIP in the Queuovirinae subfamily and Nipunavirus genus, but with divergent gene content.
  • Type IV pili were identified as the specific receptor for PIP infection in P. aeruginosa.

Conclusions:

  • PIP represents a new species of Pseudomonas phage, increasing the diversity of known phages.
  • The identification of Type IV pili as the receptor provides insights into phage-host interactions.
  • This discovery contributes to the development of bacteriophage therapy against P. aeruginosa.
Keywords:
Pseudomonas aeruginosaQueuovirinaebacteriophagepili

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