Comparative Genomics of Six Lytic Bacillus subtilis Phages from the Southwest United States

Student Authors

Albert Vill '16

Brianne Tomko '16

Katherine Boas Lichty '16

Madison Strine '18

Alexandra Guffey '17

Elizabeth Burton '18

Natalie Tanke '17

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-19-2022

Department 1

Biology

Abstract

Background: Despite their importance to microbial dynamics involving Bacillus subtilis, we have a limited understanding of the diversity of phages that can lyse this model organism. Materials and Methods: Phages were isolated from soil samples collected from various sites in the southwest U.S. deserts on a wild B. subtilis strain. Their genomes were assembled, characterized, and bioinformatically compared. Results: Six Siphoviruses with high nucleotide and amino acid similarity to each other (>80%) but very limited similarity to phages currently in GenBank were isolated. These phages have double-stranded DNA genomes (55,312 to 56,127 bp) with 86–91 putative protein coding genes, and a low GC content. Comparative genomics reveal differences in loci encoding proteins that are putatively involved in bacterial adsorption with evidence for genomic mosaicism and a possible role for small genes. Conclusions: A comparative approach provides insights into phage evolution, including the role of indels in protein folding.

Comments

This article is available from the publisher's website.

DOI

10.1089/phage.2022.0030

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