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Updated: Sep 16, 2025
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Phage Phenomics: Physiological Approaches to Characterize Novel Viral Proteins
Published on: June 11, 2015
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Complete genome of five Acinetobacter baumannii phages.
Martina Scarrone1, Dann Turner2, Johannes Wittmann3
1Département de biochimie, de microbiologie et de bio-informatique, Faculté des sciences et de génie, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.
Microbiology Resource Announcements
|July 11, 2025
Summary
Five Acinetobacter baumannii tailed phages were isolated from German wastewater. Genome analysis revealed diverse sizes and gene counts, with only one phage encoding tRNAs.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Virology
- Genomics
Background:
- Acinetobacter baumannii is an opportunistic pathogen.
- Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria and can be used for phage therapy.
- Wastewater is a potential source for isolating novel bacteriophages.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and characterize novel Acinetobacter baumannii tailed phages from wastewater.
- To analyze the genomic features of the isolated phages.
Main Methods:
- Isolation of bacteriophages from wastewater samples.
- Transmission electron microscopy for phage morphology.
- Genome sequencing and analysis (size, gene content, G+C content).
Main Results:
- Five Acinetobacter baumannii tailed phages (Bhz9, Bhz15, Bhz16, Bhz20, Bhz21) were isolated.
- Genome sizes ranged from 41,054 to 167,277 bp.
- The number of predicted genes varied from 54 to 267.
- G+C content ranged from 36.4% to 48.9%.
- Only phage Bhz15 was found to encode tRNAs.
Conclusions:
- The isolated phages represent a diverse collection of Acinetobacter baumannii tailed phages.
- Genomic analysis provides insights into phage diversity and evolution.
- The characterization of these phages could contribute to phage therapy development.
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