Molecular characterization of a new efficiently transducing bacteriophage identified in meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2016 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Journal of General Virology |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Web | http://dx.doi.org/10.1099/jgv.0.000329 |
| Doi | http://dx.doi.org/10.1099/jgv.0.000329 |
| Field | Genetics and molecular biology |
| Keywords | Staphylococcus aureus; bacteriophage transduction; horizontal gene transfer; antimicrobial drug resistance; bacteriophage genomics |
| Attached files | |
| Description | 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 phiJB, 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 43012 bp and comprising 70 ORFs, of which approximately 40 encoded proteins with unknown function. A global genome alignment of phiJB and other efficiently transducing phages phi11, phi53, phi80, phi80alpha and phiNM4 showed a high degree of homology with phiNM4 and substantial differences with regard to other phages. Using a model transduction system with a well-defined donor and recipient, phiJB 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, phiJB demonstrated high frequencies of transferring antibiotic resistance plasmids even upon induction from a lysogenic donor strain. Considering such transducing potential, phiJB 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. |
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