Complete genome sequence of Enterococcus faecalis phage EF_RCK

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Virology
• Genomics

Background:

• Enterococcus faecalis is an opportunistic pathogen.
• Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria and are being explored as therapeutic agents.
• Isolation of novel phages is crucial for expanding phage therapy options.

Purpose of the Study:

• To isolate and characterize a novel bacteriophage infecting Enterococcus faecalis.
• To determine the genomic features of the isolated phage.
• To assess the phage's taxonomic relationship to known phages.

Main Methods:

• Isolation of bacteriophage from environmental samples (water).
• Bacterial host identification (Enterococcus faecalis).
• Genomic DNA extraction, sequencing, and analysis.
• Comparative genomics and phylogenetic analysis.

Main Results:

• A lytic bacteriophage, designated EF_RCK, was successfully isolated from a raw cockle storage container.
• The phage EF_RCK has a double-stranded DNA genome of 57,848 bp encoding 107 protein-encoding genes.
• Genomic analysis revealed 90.9% nucleotide similarity to Enterococcus phage EFKL, placing it within the Saphexavirus genus.

Conclusions:

• The isolated bacteriophage EF_RCK represents a new resource for Enterococcus faecalis research.
• Its genomic characteristics align with the Saphexavirus genus.
• Further studies are warranted to explore its potential applications, such as in phage therapy.