title: The odd one out: Bacillus ACT bacteriophage CP-51 exhibits unusual properties compared to related Spounavirinae W.Ph. and Bastille.
abstract: The Bacillus ACT group includes three important pathogenic species of Bacillus: anthracis, cereus and thuringiensis. We characterized three virulent bacteriophages, Bastille, W.Ph. and CP-51, that infect various strains of these three species. We have determined the complete genome sequences of CP-51, W.Ph. and Bastille, and their physical genome structures. The CP-51 genome sequence could only be obtained using a combination of conventional and second and third next generation sequencing technologies - illustrating the problems associated with sequencing highly modified DNA. We present evidence that the generalized transduction facilitated by CP-51 is independent of a specific genome structure, but likely due to sporadic packaging errors of the terminase. There is clear correlation of the genetic and morphological features of these phages validating their placement in the Spounavirinae subfamily (SPO1-related phages) of the Myoviridae. This study also provides tools for the development of phage-based diagnostics/therapeutics for this group of pathogens.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zurich, Schmelzbergstrasse 7, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address: jklumpp@ethz.ch.
authors.forename: Jochen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Klumpp
authors.affiliation: Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zurich, Schmelzbergstrasse 7, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schmuki
authors.affiliation: GoldBelt Raven, LLC, Frederick, MD 21701, USA.
authors.forename: Shanmuga
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sozhamannan
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental and Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Medicine, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Beyer
authors.affiliation: J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI), 9704 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20878, USA.
authors.forename: Derrick E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Fouts
authors.affiliation: Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zurich, Schmelzbergstrasse 7, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bernbach
authors.affiliation: University of California, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Berkeley, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Calendar
authors.affiliation: Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zurich, Schmelzbergstrasse 7, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Martin J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Loessner
mesh_terms: D017103:Bacillus Phages / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001408:Bacillus anthracis / Q000821:virology*; D001409:Bacillus cereus / Q000821:virology*; D001413:Bacillus thuringiensis / Q000821:virology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D023061:Gene Order; D016679:Genome, Viral; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017900:Myoviridae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D026801:Synteny; D014161:Transduction, Genetic; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins
keywords: Biocontrol; Genome sequencing; Hybrid sequencing; Spounavirinae; Transduction