title: Molecular characterization of a new efficiently transducing bacteriophage identified in meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
abstract: In Staphylococcus aureus, generalized transduction mediated by temperate bacteriophages represents a highly efficient way of transferring antibiotic resistance genes between strains. In the present study, we identified and characterized in detail a new efficiently transducing bacteriophage of the family Siphoviridae, designated ϕJB, which resides as a prophage in the meticillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strain Jevons B. Whole-genome sequencing followed by detailed in silico analysis uncovered a linear dsDNA genome consisting of 43 ,12 bp and comprising 70 ORFs, of which ∼40 encoded proteins with unknown function. A global genome alignment of ϕJB and other efficiently transducing phages ϕ11, ϕ53, ϕ80, ϕ80α and ϕNM4 showed a high degree of homology with ϕNM4 and substantial differences with regard to other phages. Using a model transduction system with a well-defined donor and recipient, ϕJB transferred the tetracycline resistance plasmid pT181 and a penicillinase plasmid with outstanding frequencies, beating most of the above-mentioned phages by an order of magnitude. Moreover, ϕJB demonstrated high frequencies of transferring antibiotic resistance plasmids even upon induction from a lysogenic donor strain. Considering such transducing potential, ϕJB and related bacteriophages may serve as a suitable tool for elucidating the nature of transduction and its contribution to the spread of antibiotic resistance genes in naturally occurring MRSA populations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlárˇská 2, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Varga
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlárˇská 2, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Roman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pantu Ček
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlárˇská 2, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Vladislava
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ru Žičková
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlárˇská 2, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Jirˇí
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Doškarˇ
mesh_terms: D019295:Computational Biology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D023061:Gene Order; D022761:Gene Transfer, Horizontal; D016679:Genome, Viral; D008242:Lysogeny; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000821:virology*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D010802:Phylogeny; D010957:Plasmids; D039002:Prophages / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017385:Sequence Homology; D017906:Siphoviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000648:ultrastructure; D026801:Synteny; D014161:Transduction, Genetic; D014775:Virus Activation
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral