title: Comparative whole genome analysis of six diagnostic brucellaphages.
abstract: Whole genome sequencing of six diagnostic brucellaphages, Tbilisi (Tb), Firenze (Fz), Weybridge (Wb), S708, Berkeley (Bk) and R/C, was followed with genomic comparisons including recently described genomes of the Tb phage from Mexico (TbM) and Pr phage to elucidate genomic diversity and candidate host range determinants. Comparative whole genome analysis revealed high sequence homogeneity among these brucellaphage genomes and resolved three genetic groups consistent with defined host range phenotypes. Group I was composed of Tb and Fz phages that are predominantly lytic for Brucella abortus and Brucella neotomae; Group II included Bk, R/C, and Pr phages that are lytic mainly for B. abortus, Brucella melitensis and Brucella suis; Group III was composed of Wb and S708 phages that are lytic for B. suis, B. abortus and B. neotomae. We found that the putative phage collar protein is a variable locus with features that may be contributing to the host specificities exhibited by different brucellaphage groups. The presence of several candidate host range determinants is illustrated herein for future dissection of the differential host specificity observed among these phages.
authors: Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia.
authors: Jason
authors: J
authors: Farlow
authors: Department of Emerging Bacterial Infections, Bacterial Diseases Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA.
authors: Andrey A
authors: AA
authors: Filippov
authors: Department of Emerging Bacterial Infections, Bacterial Diseases Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA.
authors: Kirill V
authors: KV
authors: Sergueev
authors: Viral Diseases Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA.
authors: Jun
authors: J
authors: Hang
authors: Richard G. Lugar Center for Public Health Research, Tbilisi, Georgia.
authors: Adam
authors: A
authors: Kotorashvili
authors: Department of Emerging Bacterial Infections, Bacterial Diseases Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA. Electronic address: mikeljon.p.nikolich.civ@mail.mil.
authors: Mikeljon P
authors: MP
authors: Nikolich
mesh_terms: D001434:Bacteriophage Typing; D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D002002:Brucella / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000821:virology; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D014644:Genetic Variation; D016679:Genome, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study; D023281:Genomics; D059014:High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; D058507:Host Specificity; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016366:Open Reading Frames / Q000235:genetics; D010641:Phenotype; D010802:Phylogeny; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D004279:DNA, Viral
keywords: Bacteriophage; Brucella; Brucellaphage; Comparative genomics