Genome sequencing and analysis of an Escherichia coli phage vB_EcoM-ep3 with a novel lysin, Lysep3

Virus Genes. 2015 Jun;50(3):487-97. doi: 10.1007/s11262-015-1195-8. Epub 2015 Apr 5.

Abstract

Bacteriophages represent one prospect for preventing and treating multi-drug-resistant Escherichia coli. In this study, we have isolated a novel E. coli-specific bacteriophage and characterised its biological properties. vB_EcoM-ep3 has a broad host range and was able to lyse 9 out of 15 clinical isolates of multi-drug-resistant pathogenic E. coli from chickens. The optimal multiplicity of infection for vB_EcoM-ep3 in host bacteria was 0.01. vB_EcoM-ep3 was thermostable at temperatures below 50 °C for up to 60 min. Electron microscopy demonstrated that vB_EcoM-ep3 belongs to Myoviridae. The vB_EcoM-ep3 genome contained 42,351 pairs of nucleotides with a GC content of 53.35 %. There were 52 predicted open reading frames that appeared to overlap and have a modular structure. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that the closest evolutionary relative to vB_EcoM-ep3 is the previously reported E. coli phage vB_EcoM_ECO1230-10. However, there was no homology between reported E. coli phage lysins and the vB_EcoM-ep3 lysin gene. Lysep3 was 58 % similar to the Pseudomonas phage PPpW-3 lysin despite showing no similarities at the gene sequence level. And Lysep3 has good lysis activity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Bacteriolysis
  • Base Composition
  • Chickens
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Coliphages / enzymology*
  • Coliphages / genetics*
  • Coliphages / isolation & purification
  • Coliphages / physiology
  • DNA, Viral / chemistry*
  • DNA, Viral / genetics*
  • Escherichia coli / isolation & purification
  • Escherichia coli / virology*
  • Genome, Viral*
  • Host Specificity
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Myoviridae / enzymology
  • Myoviridae / genetics
  • Myoviridae / isolation & purification
  • Myoviridae / physiology
  • Open Reading Frames
  • Phylogeny
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Sequence Homology
  • Virion / ultrastructure

Substances

  • DNA, Viral

Associated data

  • GENBANK/KM360178