Molecular characterization of a new efficiently transducing bacteriophage identified in meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Warning

This publication doesn't include Faculty of Education. It includes Faculty of Science. Official publication website can be found on muni.cz.
Authors

VARGA Marian PANTŮČEK Roman RŮŽIČKOVÁ Vladislava DOŠKAŘ Jiří

Year of publication 2016
Type Article in Periodical
Magazine / Source Journal of General Virology
MU Faculty or unit

Faculty of Science

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.
Related projects:

You are running an old browser version. We recommend updating your browser to its latest version.