Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
3424284 | Virology | 2012 | 6 Pages |
We report the study of phage AF, the first member of the canonical lambdoid phage group infecting Pseudomonas putida. Its 42.6 kb genome is related to the “epsilon15-like viruses” and the “BPP-1-like viruses”, a clade of bacteriophages shaped by extensive horizontal gene transfer. The AF virions display exopolysaccharide (EPS)-degrading activity, which originates from the action of the C-terminal domain of the tail spike (Gp19). This protein shows high similarity to the tail spike of the T7-like P. putida-infecting phage φ15. These unrelated phages have an identical host spectrum and EPS degradation characteristics, designating the C-terminal part of Gp19 as sole determinant for these functions. While intact AF particles have biofilm-degrading properties, Gp19 and non-infectious AF particles do not, emphasizing the role of phage amplification in biofilm degradation.
► P. putida phage AF is a member of the canonical lambdoid phage group. ► Expanding halo zones around plaques indicate phage-mediated EPS-degradation. ► AF genome is marked by a high degree of horizontal gene transfer. ► Host ranges of AF and φ15 reflect homology of their viral tail spikes.