The complete genomes and proteomes of 27 Staphylococcus aureus bacteriophages.
Bacteriophages are the most abundant life forms in the biosphere. They play important roles in bacterial ecology, evolution, adaptation to new environments, and pathogenesis of human bacterial infections. Here, we report the complete genomic sequences, and predicted proteins of 27 bacteriophages of the Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus. Comparative nucleotide and protein sequence analysis indicates that these phages are a remarkable source of untapped genetic diversity, encoding 2,170 predicted protein-encoding ORFs, of which 1,402 cannot be annotated for structure or function, and 522 are proteins with no similarity to other phage or bacterial sequences. Based on their genome size, organization of their gene map and comparative nucleotide and protein sequence analysis, the S. aureus phages can be organized into three groups. Comparison of their gene maps reveals extensive genome mosaicism, hinting to a large reservoir of unidentified S. aureus phage genes. Among the phages in the largest size class (178-214 kbp) that we characterized is phage Twort, the first discovered bacteriophage (responsible for the Twort-D'Herelle effect). These phage genomes offer an exciting opportunity to discern molecular mechanisms of phage evolution and diversity.
Kwan
Tony
T
Targanta Therapeutics, 7170 Frederick Banting, Second Floor, Ville Saint Laurent, QC, Canada H4S 2A1.
Liu
Jing
J
DuBow
Michael
M
Gros
Philippe
P
Pelletier
Jerry
J
D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D014644:Genetic Variation; D016679:Genome, Viral; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009030:Mosaicism; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D020543:Proteome; D012326:RNA Splicing / Q000235:genetics; D013204:Staphylococcus Phages / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000821:virology; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics
D020543:Proteome; D014764:Viral Proteins