Isolation and molecular characterisation of Achromobacter phage phiAxp-3, an N4-like bacteriophage.
Achromobacter xylosoxidans, an opportunistic pathogen, is responsible for various nosocomial and community-acquired infections. We isolated phiAxp-3, an N4-like bacteriophage that infects A. xylosoxidans, from hospital waste and studied its genomic and biological properties. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that, with a 67-nm diameter icosahedral head and a 20-nm non-contractile tail, phiAxp-3 has features characteristic of Podoviridae bacteriophages (order Caudovirales). With a burst size of 9000 plaque-forming units and a latent period of 80 min, phiAxp-3 had a host range limited to only four A. xylosoxidans strains of the 35 strains that were tested. The 72,825 bp phiAxp-3 DNA genome, with 416-bp terminal redundant ends, contains 80 predicted open reading frames, none of which are related to virulence or drug resistance. Genome sequence comparisons place phiAxp-3 more closely with JWAlpha and JWDelta Achromobacter phages than with other N4 viruses. Using proteomics, we identified 25 viral proteins from purified phiAxp-3 particles. Notably, investigation of the phage phiAxp-3 receptor on the surface of the host cell revealed that lipopolysaccharide serves as the receptor for the adsorption of phage phiAxp-3. Our findings advance current knowledge about A. xylosoxidans phages in an age where alternative therapies to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria are urgently needed.
College of Food Science, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, 453003, China.
Yanyan
Y
Ma
College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
Erna
E
Li
Qinghai Institute for Endemic Disease Prevention and Control of Qinghai Province, Xining, 810000, China.
Zhizhen
Z
Qi
Institute of Disease Control and Prevention, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100071, China.
Huan
H
Li
Institute of Disease Control and Prevention, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100071, China.
Xiao
X
Wei
Institute of Disease Control and Prevention, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100071, China.
Weishi
W
Lin
College of Food Science, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, 453003, China.
Ruixiang
R
Zhao
College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
Aimin
A
Jiang
State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, 100071, China.
Huiying
H
Yang
State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, 100071, China.
Zhe
Z
Yin
Institute of Disease Control and Prevention, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100071, China.
Jing
J
Yuan
Institute of Disease Control and Prevention, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100071, China.
Xiangna
X
Zhao
D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D019295:Computational Biology; D004261:DNA Replication; D023061:Gene Order; D005814:Genes, Viral; D016679:Genome, Viral; D023281:Genomics / Q000379:methods; D058507:Host Specificity; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D058977:Molecular Sequence Annotation; D010802:Phylogeny; D011991:Receptors, Virus / Q000378:metabolism; D013696:Temperature; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014771:Virion
D011991:Receptors, Virus