title: Molecular characterization of bacteriophages for microbial source tracking in Korea.
abstract: We investigated coliphages from various fecal sources, including humans and animals, for microbial source tracking in South Korea. Both somatic and F+-specific coliphages were isolated from 43 fecal samples from farms, wild animal habitats, and human wastewater plants. Somatic coliphages were more prevalent and abundant than F+ coliphages in all of the tested fecal samples. We further characterized 311 F+ coliphage isolates using RNase sensitivity assays, PCR and reverse transcription-PCR, and nucleic acid sequencing. Phylogenetic analyses were performed based on the partial nucleic acid sequences of 311 F+ coliphages from various sources. F+ RNA coliphages were most prevalent among geese (95%) and were least prevalent in cows (5%). Among the genogroups of F+ RNA coliphages, most F+ coliphages isolated from animal fecal sources belonged to either group I or group IV, and most from human wastewater sources were in group II or III. Some of the group I coliphages were present in both human and animal source samples. F+ RNA coliphages isolated from various sources were divided into two main clusters. All F+ RNA coliphages isolated from human wastewater were grouped with Qbeta-like phages, while phages isolated from most animal sources were grouped with MS2-like phages. UniFrac significance statistical analyses revealed significant differences between human and animal bacteriophages. In the principal coordinate analysis (PCoA), F+ RNA coliphages isolated from human waste were distinctively separate from those isolated from other animal sources. However, F+ DNA coliphages were not significantly different or separate in the PCoA. These results demonstrate that proper analysis of F+ RNA coliphages can effectively distinguish fecal sources.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Environment, Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Seoul National University, 28 Yeongeon-dong, Chongro-gu, Seoul 110-799, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jung Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Mi Young
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Sei Yoon
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sunghee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Heetae
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hyun-Myung
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Hor-Gil
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Hur
authors.forename: Gwangpyo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ko
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001434:Bacteriophage Typing; D003090:Coliphages / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012260:Ribonucleases / Q000378:metabolism; D012722:Sewage / Q000821:virology; D014871:Water Microbiology
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral; D012722:Sewage; D012260:Ribonucleases