Characterization of Five Novel Brevibacillus Bacteriophages and Genomic Comparison of Brevibacillus Phages.
Brevibacillus laterosporus is a spore-forming bacterium that causes a secondary infection in beehives following European Foulbrood disease. To better understand the contributions of Brevibacillus bacteriophages to the evolution of their hosts, five novel phages (Jenst, Osiris, Powder, SecTim467, and Sundance) were isolated and characterized. When compared with the five Brevibacillus phages currently in NCBI, these phages were assigned to clusters based on whole genome and proteome synteny. Powder and Osiris, both myoviruses, were assigned to the previously described Jimmer-like cluster. SecTim467 and Jenst, both siphoviruses, formed a novel phage cluster. Sundance, a siphovirus, was assigned as a singleton phage along with the previously isolated singleton, Emery. In addition to characterizing the basic relationships between these phages, several genomic features were observed. A motif repeated throughout phages Jenst and SecTim467 was frequently upstream of genes predicted to function in DNA replication, nucleotide metabolism, and transcription, suggesting transcriptional co-regulation. In addition, paralogous gene pairs that encode a putative transcriptional regulator were identified in four Brevibacillus phages. These paralogs likely evolved to bind different DNA sequences due to variation at amino acid residues predicted to bind specific nucleotides. Finally, a putative transposable element was identified in SecTim467 and Sundance that carries genes homologous to those found in Brevibacillus chromosomes. Remnants of this transposable element were also identified in phage Jenst. These discoveries provide a greater understanding of the diversity of phages, their behavior, and their evolutionary relationships to one another and to their host. In addition, they provide a foundation with which further Brevibacillus phages can be compared.
Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States of America.
Jordan A
JA
Berg
Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States of America.
Bryan D
BD
Merrill
Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States of America.
Justin T
JT
Crockett
Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States of America.
Kyle P
KP
Esplin
Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States of America.
Marlee R
MR
Evans
Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States of America.
Karli E
KE
Heaton
Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States of America.
Jared A
JA
Hilton
Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States of America.
Jonathan R
JR
Hyde
Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States of America.
Morgan S
MS
McBride
Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States of America.
Jordan T
JT
Schouten
Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States of America.
Austin R
AR
Simister
Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States of America.
Trever L
TL
Thurgood
Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States of America.
Andrew T
AT
Ward
Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States of America.
Donald P
DP
Breakwell
Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States of America.
Sandra
S
Hope
Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States of America.
Julianne H
JH
Grose
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D058675:Brevibacillus / Q000821:virology*; D004261:DNA Replication; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D014644:Genetic Variation; D016679:Genome, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D023281:Genomics / Q000379:methods*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D010802:Phylogeny; D040901:Proteomics / Q000379:methods; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014771:Virion / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure
D004279:DNA, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins