title: UV-Sensitivity of Shiga Toxin-Converting Bacteriophage Virions Φ24B, 933W, P22, P27 and P32.
abstract: Shiga toxin-converting bacteriophages (Stx phages) are present as prophages in Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains. Theses phages can be transmitted to previously non-pathogenic E. coli cells making them potential producers of Shiga toxins, as they bear genes for these toxins in their genomes. Therefore, sensitivity of Stx phage virions to various conditions is important in both natural processes of spreading of these viruses and potential prophylactic control of appearance of novel pathogenic E. coli strains. In this report we provide evidence that virions of Stx phages are significantly more sensitive to UV irradiation than bacteriophage λ. Following UV irradiation of Stx virions at the dose of 50 J/m², their infectivity dropped by 1-3 log10, depending on the kind of phage. Under these conditions, a considerable release of phage DNA from virions was observed, and electron microscopy analyses indicated a large proportion of partially damaged virions. Infection of E. coli cells with UV-irradiated Stx phages resulted in significantly decreased levels of expression of N and cro genes, crucial for lytic development. We conclude that inactivation of Stx virions caused by relatively low dose of UV light is due to damage of capsids that prevents effective infection of the host cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, Gdańsk 80-308, Poland. sylwia.bloch@biol.ug.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Sylwia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bloch
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, Gdańsk 80-308, Poland. bozena.nejman@biol.ug.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Bożena
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nejman-Faleńczyk
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, Gdańsk 80-308, Poland. gracja.topka1@wp.pl.
authors.forename: Gracja
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Topka
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, Gdańsk 80-308, Poland. ola.dydecka@wp.pl.
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dydecka
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, Gdańsk 80-308, Poland. katarzyna.licznerska@biol.ug.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Licznerska
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Electron Microscopy, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, Gdańsk 80-308, Poland. magdalena.narajczyk@biol.ug.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Narajczyk
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, Gdańsk 80-308, Poland. agnieszkanecel@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Necel
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Biology (affiliated with the University of Gdańsk), Polish Academy of Sciences, Wita Stwosza 59, Gdańsk 80-308, Poland. alicja.wegrzyn@biol.ug.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Alicja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Węgrzyn
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, Gdańsk 80-308, Poland. grzegorz.wegrzyn@biol.ug.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Grzegorz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Węgrzyn
mesh_terms: D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000528:radiation effects; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D050296:Microbial Viability; D054323:Shiga-Toxigenic Escherichia coli / Q000378:metabolism; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014771:Virion / Q000528:radiation effects*
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral
keywords: Shiga toxin-converting bacteriophages; UV irradiation; virion stability