Phage C-1: an IncC group; plasmid-specific phage

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Following Cell-fate in E. coli After Infection by Phage Lambda

Published on: October 14, 2011

F A Sirgel, J N Coetzee, R W Hedges

    Journal of General Microbiology
    |January 1, 1981
    PubMed

    Insights

    A novel phage specifically targets bacteria with IncC plasmids, demonstrating its potential as a tool for studying these genetic elements. This phage requires IncC plasmids for plaque formation but can multiply in various bacterial hosts.

    Area of Science:

    • Microbiology
    • Virology
    • Bacteriology

    Background:

    • Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria and can serve as valuable tools in molecular biology and medicine.
    • IncC plasmids are a group of conjugative plasmids found in various Gram-negative bacteria, often carrying antibiotic resistance genes.
    • Phage-host interactions are often specific and can be influenced by bacterial genetic elements like plasmids.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To isolate and characterize a novel bacteriophage from sewage.
    • To determine the host range and replication requirements of the isolated phage.
    • To investigate the phage's interaction with bacteria carrying IncC plasmids.

    Main Methods:

    • Enrichment culture of sewage samples to isolate phages.
    • Plaque assays on various bacterial strains (Salmonella typhimurium, Proteus mirabilis, Serratia marcescens, Escherichia coli) with and without IncC plasmids.
    • Electron microscopy to determine phage morphology.
    • Chloroform resistance assay.
    • Adsorption assays to bacterial pili.

    Main Results:

    • A bacteriophage was isolated from sewage that forms plaques on Salmonella typhimurium strains carrying IncC plasmids.
    • The phage failed to multiply on strains lacking IncC plasmids or those with other incompatibility groups.
    • While plaque formation was limited in Escherichia coli, phage multiplication was demonstrated in various bacterial hosts carrying IncC plasmids.
    • The phage is small, hexagonal, contains RNA, is chloroform-resistant, and adsorbs to pili encoded by IncC plasmids.

    Conclusions:

    • The isolated phage exhibits a specific requirement for IncC plasmids for plaque formation, suggesting a dependence on plasmid-encoded factors.
    • The phage's ability to adsorb to pili coded by IncC plasmids indicates a potential mechanism for host recognition and entry.
    • This phage represents a potential new tool for studying IncC plasmids and their associated bacterial hosts.

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