title: Putative type 1 thymidylate synthase and dihydrofolate reductase as signature genes of a novel Bastille-like group of phages in the subfamily Spounavirinae.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Spounavirinae viruses have received an increasing interest as tools for the control of harmful bacteria due to their relatively broad host range and strictly virulent phenotype.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this study, we collected and analyzed the complete genome sequences of 61 published phages, either ICTV-classified or candidate members of the Spounavirinae subfamily of the Myoviridae. A set of comparative analyses identified a distinct, recently proposed Bastille-like phage group within the Spounavirinae. More importantly, type 1 thymidylate synthase (TS1) and dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) genes were shown to be unique for the members of the proposed Bastille-like phage group, and are suitable as molecular markers. We also show that the members of this group encode beta-lactamase and/or sporulation-related SpoIIIE homologs, possibly questioning their suitability as biocontrol agents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We confirm the creation of a new genus--the "Bastille-like group"--in Spounavirinae, and propose that the presence of TS1- and DHFR-encoding genes could serve as signatures for the new Bastille-like group. In addition, the presence of metallo-beta-lactamase and/or SpoIIIE homologs in all members of Bastille-like group phages makes questionable their suitability for use in biocontrol.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Technology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do, 561-756, Korea. paul20104real@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Paul Tetteh
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Asare
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Technology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do, 561-756, Korea. thtti@hanmail.net.
authors.forename: Tae-Yong
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Animal Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea. sangryu@snu.ac.kr.|Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Center for Agricultural Biomaterials, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea. sangryu@snu.ac.kr.|Research Institute for Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea. sangryu@snu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Sangryeol
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zurich, Schmelzbergstrasse 7, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland. jochen.klumpp@hest.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. martin.loessner@ethz.ch.
authors.forename: Martin J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Loessner
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA. brymerr921@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Bryan D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Merrill
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Technology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do, 561-756, Korea. kpkim@jbnu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Kwang-Pyo
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D017103:Bacillus Phages / Q000235:genetics*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D016679:Genome, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D058507:Host Specificity / Q000235:genetics; D017900:Myoviridae / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny; D013762:Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase / Q000235:genetics*; D013940:Thymidylate Synthase / Q000235:genetics*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins; D013762:Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase; D013940:Thymidylate Synthase; D001618:beta-Lactamases