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Phage Phenomics: Physiological Approaches to Characterize Novel Viral Proteins
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Complete Genome Sequences of Mycobacteriophages Balomoji, Crumble, Frederick, ShowerHandel, TinyTimmy and Zabiza

Zachery Middleton1, Giovanna Alves1, Em Bavuso1

  • 1Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States.

Micropublication Biology
|July 9, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Researchers sequenced six new phages infecting Mycobacterium smegmatis. These phages, with double-stranded DNA genomes and siphoviral structure, represent diverse Mycobacterium phage clusters and include one with a deletion affecting lysogeny.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Virology
  • Genomics

Background:

  • Mycobacterium smegmatis is a model organism for studying mycobacteria.
  • Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that infect bacteria and are increasingly explored for therapeutic applications.
  • Understanding phage diversity is crucial for phage therapy development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To sequence and characterize novel bacteriophages infecting Mycobacterium smegmatis.
  • To analyze the genomic diversity of these newly identified phages.
  • To identify unique genetic features, such as those related to lysogeny.

Main Methods:

  • Isolation and purification of bacteriophages from environmental samples.
  • Transmission electron microscopy for morphological analysis (siphoviral).
  • Whole-genome sequencing and bioinformatic analysis to determine genome structure (double-stranded DNA) and phylogenetic relationships.

Main Results:

  • Genome sequences of six novel phages infecting Mycobacterium smegmatis mc^2^155 were obtained.
  • All sequenced phages exhibited siphoviral morphology and possessed double-stranded DNA genomes.
  • The phage genomes represented five distinct clusters within the Mycobacterium phage family.
  • One cluster K1 phage genome displayed a deletion impacting genes essential for lysogeny.

Conclusions:

  • The study expands the known genomic diversity of Mycobacterium phages.
  • The identified phages provide new tools for studying mycobacterial genetics and phage-host interactions.
  • The deletion in the cluster K1 phage offers insights into the genetic regulation of lysogeny in mycobacteriophages.

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