Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Characterization of a Pathogenic Escherichia coli Strain Derived from Oreochromis spp. Farms Using Whole-Genome Sequencing
09:44

Characterization of a Pathogenic Escherichia coli Strain Derived from Oreochromis spp. Farms Using Whole-Genome Sequencing

Published on: December 23, 2022

Sequencing of ATCC 19951-B2 reveals Enterococcus bacteriophage misidentified as Streptococcus sp. phage

Nicolas Fournier1,2, Steven S Theriault1, Tasia Joy Lightly1

  • 1Cytophage Technologies Limited, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Microbiology Resource Announcements
|June 22, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Researchers sought phages targeting Streptococcus suis. Genome sequencing reclassified the Streptococcus sp. bacteriophage 118 as an Enterococcus phage, impacting phage research.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Virology
  • Genomics

Background:

  • Streptococcus suis is a significant swine pathogen.
  • Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria and are potential therapeutic agents.
  • Characterizing phages is crucial for understanding their host range and applications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify phages capable of targeting Streptococcus suis isolates from Manitoba farms.
  • To characterize a control strain, Streptococcus sp. bacteriophage 118 (ATCC 19951-B2).

Main Methods:

  • Genome sequencing of Streptococcus sp. bacteriophage 118.
  • Bioinformatic analysis of the viral genome.
  • Phylogenetic analysis for classification.

Main Results:

  • The genome of Streptococcus sp. bacteriophage 118 was sequenced, revealing a size of 154,261 bp.
  • Phylogenetic and genomic analyses led to the reclassification of the virus.
  • The bacteriophage was reclassified as an Enterococcus phage, not a Streptococcus phage.

Conclusions:

  • The initial control strain, Streptococcus sp. bacteriophage 118, is not a Streptococcus phage.
  • This reclassification has implications for phage discovery efforts targeting Streptococcus suis.
  • Further research is needed to identify suitable phages for Streptococcus suis control.
Keywords:
bacteriophage geneticsbacteriophages

More Related Videos

Phage-Mediated Genetic Manipulation of the Lyme Disease Spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi09:01

Phage-Mediated Genetic Manipulation of the Lyme Disease Spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi

Published on: September 28, 2022

Screening Foodstuffs for Class 1 Integrons and Gene Cassettes09:37

Screening Foodstuffs for Class 1 Integrons and Gene Cassettes

Published on: June 19, 2015

Related Concept Videos

DNA Bacteriophages01:26

DNA Bacteriophages

Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that specifically infect bacteria, utilizing their genetic material to hijack host cellular machinery for replication. DNA bacteriophages employ single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) or double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) genomes. These phages exhibit diverse replication strategies and host interactions, influencing their ecological roles and applications in biotechnology and medicine.ssDNA BacteriophagesssDNA phages, with their small genomes, utilize unique strategies to...
Viral Replication: Lytic Cycle01:20

Viral Replication: Lytic Cycle

Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that specifically infect bacteria. Among them, T-even bacteriophages, such as T4, exhibit a well-characterized lytic replication cycle in Escherichia coli (E. coli). This process ensures the rapid proliferation of the virus while ultimately leading to the destruction of the bacterial host.Attachment and DNA InjectionThe infection process begins with the recognition and binding of the T4 phage to the E. coli cell surface. Tail fibers of the phage...
Lysogenic Cycle of Bacteriophages00:43

Lysogenic Cycle of Bacteriophages

In contrast to the lytic cycle, phages infecting bacteria via the lysogenic cycle do not immediately kill their host cell. Instead, they combine their genome with the host genome, allowing the bacteria to replicate the phage DNA along with the bacterial genome. The incorporated copy of the phage genome is called the prophage. Some prophages can re-activate and enter the lytic cycle. This often occurs in response to a perturbation, such as DNA damage, but can also transpire in the absence of...
Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages01:30

Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages

Bacteriophages, also known as phages, are specialized viruses that infect bacteria. A key characteristic of phages is their distinctive “head-tail” morphology. A phage begins the infection process (i.e., lytic cycle) by attaching to the outside of a bacterial cell. Attachment is accomplished via proteins in the phage tail that bind to specific receptor proteins on the outer surface of the bacterium. The tail injects the phage’s DNA genome into the bacterial cytoplasm. In the lytic replication...
Bacteriophages of the Human Virome01:23

Bacteriophages of the Human Virome

Bacteriophages are found throughout the human body. They may even outnumber eukaryotic viruses, forming an important and dynamic component of the human virome. Indeed, phages represent the most abundant viral entities, with densities in the gut reaching up to 10⁹ particles per gram of fecal matter, and many belonging to orders such as Caudovirales and Microviridae, while a substantial proportion remains unclassified as viral “dark matter.”Lysogeny and Genetic ExchangeIn the gut, bacteriophages...