Genomic characterization and comparison of seven Myoviridae bacteriophage infecting Bacillus thuringiensis

- Seven new Bacillus thuringiensis phages were isolated, characterized, sequenced, and annotated.
- These seven phages comprise a new cluster based on genome size, physical attributes, and genomic content when compared to previously clustered Bacillus phages.
- A core set of genes for this cluster was defined.
- These phages were able to infect Bacillus hosts outside the B. cereus group.

Bacillus thuringiensis Kurstaki, a bacterium that is a source of biopesticides and a safe simulant for pathogenic Bacillus species, was used to isolate seven unique bacteriophages. The phage genomes were sequenced and ranged in size from 158,100 to 163,019 bp encoding 290-299 genes, and the GC content of ~38% was similar to that of the host bacterium. All phages had terminal repeats 2-3 kb long. Three of the phages encoded tRNAs and three contained a self-splicing intron in the DNA polymerase gene. They were categorized as a single cluster (>60% nucleotide conservation) containing three subclusters (>80% nucleotide conservation), supported by genomic synteny and phylogenetic analysis. Considering the published genomes of phages that infect the genus Bacillus and noting the ability of many of the Bacillus cereus group phages to infect multiple species, a clustering system based on gene content is proposed.