title: Genome analysis of Cronobacter phage vB_CsaP_Ss1 reveals an endolysin with potential for biocontrol of Gram-negative bacterial pathogens.
abstract: Bacteriophages and their derivatives are continuously gaining impetus as viable alternative therapeutic agents to control harmful multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens, particularly in the food industry. The reduced efficacy of conventional antibiotics has resulted in a quest to find novel alternatives in the war against infectious disease. This study describes the full-genome sequence of Cronobacter phage vB_CsaP_Ss1, with subsequent cloning and expression of its endolysin, capable of hydrolysing Gram-negative peptidoglycan. Cronobacter phage vB_CsaP_Ss1 is composed of 42 205 bp of dsDNA with a G+C content of 46.1 mol%. A total of 57 ORFs were identified of which 18 could be assigned a putative function based on similarity to characterized proteins. The genome of Cronobacter phage vB_CsaP_Ss1 showed little similarity to any other bacteriophage genomes available in the database and thus was considered unique. In addition, functional analysis of the predicted endolysin (LysSs1) was also investigated. Zymographic experiments demonstrated the hydrolytic activity of LysSs1 against Gram-negative peptidoglycan, and this endolysin thus represents a novel candidate with potential for use against Gram-negative pathogens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Cork Institute of Technology, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Lorraine
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Endersen
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Department, Teagasc, Moorepark Food Research Centre, Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Caitriona M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Guinane
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Cork Institute of Technology, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Max Rubner-Institut, Federal Research Institute of Nutrition and Food, Hermann-Weigmann-Strasse 1, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Horst
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Neve
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Cork Institute of Technology, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Aidan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coffey
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Department, Teagasc, Moorepark Food Research Centre, Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: R Paul
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Department, Teagasc, Moorepark Food Research Centre, Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Olivia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: McAuliffe
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Cork Institute of Technology, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: O'Mahony
mesh_terms: D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000235:genetics*; D001482:Base Composition; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D059126:Cronobacter / Q000821:virology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D016679:Genome, Viral; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D006868:Hydrolysis; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D010457:Peptidoglycan / Q000378:metabolism*; D010572:Pest Control, Biological / Q000379:methods; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D010457:Peptidoglycan; D010450:Endopeptidases; C001143:endolysin