Genomic analysis of prophages from Burkholderia gladioli exposes extensive genetic diversity

The Burkholderia genus of Gram-negative bacteria are known for their extensive metabolic capabilities, their relatively plastic genomes, their high intrinsic resistance to antibiotics, and their ability to cause various diseases in humans, animals, and plants. Burkholderia gladioli is one such species, that is an opportunistic pathogen in people, causing sometimes fatal pneumonia, or in plants, causing onion bulb rot, mushroom soft rot, or rice panicle blight. Therapies that utilize bacterial viruses (bacteriophages, or phages) to counter or control pathogenic bacteria are a promising alternative to antibiotics. Here, we present genomic characterization of four new B. gladioli induced prophages, including their phage particle characteristics, host specificity, genomic content relatedness, and potential therapeutic activity. These findings indicate a widespread lysogenic state within the B. gladioli population. Further investigation of the interactions between bacteriophages / prophages and their targeted B. gladioli bacteria will inform on the genomic diversity, environmental survival, and pathogenic potential of B. gladioli, and importantly, the use of B. gladioli phages in phage therapy applications.