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Genomic diversity of bacteriophages infecting Rhodobacter capsulatus and their relatedness to its gene transfer agent RcGTA

Rapala, Jackson ; Miller, Brenda ; Garcia, Maximiliano ; Dolan, Megan ; Bockman, Matthew ; Hansson, Mats LU ; Russell, Daniel A. ; Garlena, Rebecca A. ; Cresawn, Steven G. and Westbye, Alexander B. , et al. (2021) In PLoS ONE 16(11 November).
Abstract

The diversity of bacteriophages is likely unparalleled in the biome due to the immense variety of hosts and the multitude of viruses that infect them. Recent efforts have led to description at the genomic level of numerous bacteriophages that infect the Actinobacteria, but relatively little is known about those infecting other prokaryotic phyla, such as the purple non-sulfur photosynthetic α-proteobacterium Rhodobacter capsulatus. This species is a common inhabitant of freshwater ecosystems and has been an important model system for the study of photosynthesis. Additionally, it is notable for its utilization of a unique form of horizontal gene transfer via a bacteriophage-like element known as the gene transfer agent (RcGTA). Only three... (More)

The diversity of bacteriophages is likely unparalleled in the biome due to the immense variety of hosts and the multitude of viruses that infect them. Recent efforts have led to description at the genomic level of numerous bacteriophages that infect the Actinobacteria, but relatively little is known about those infecting other prokaryotic phyla, such as the purple non-sulfur photosynthetic α-proteobacterium Rhodobacter capsulatus. This species is a common inhabitant of freshwater ecosystems and has been an important model system for the study of photosynthesis. Additionally, it is notable for its utilization of a unique form of horizontal gene transfer via a bacteriophage-like element known as the gene transfer agent (RcGTA). Only three bacteriophages of R. capsulatus had been sequenced prior to this report. Isolation and characterization at the genomic level of 26 new bacteriophages infecting this host advances the understanding of bacteriophage diversity and the origins of RcGTA. These newly discovered isolates can be grouped along with three that were previously sequenced to form six clusters with four remaining as single representatives. These bacteriophages share genes with RcGTA that seem to be related to host recognition. One isolate was found to cause lysis of a marine bacterium when exposed to high-titer lysate. Although some clusters are more highly represented in the sequenced genomes, it is evident that many more bacteriophage types that infect R. capsulatus are likely to be found in the future.

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Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
PLoS ONE
volume
16
issue
11 November
article number
e0255262
publisher
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
external identifiers
  • pmid:34793465
  • scopus:85119580123
ISSN
1932-6203
DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0255262
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
959385fe-1d72-45a2-a7d3-6b3758a8931a
date added to LUP
2021-12-03 14:04:03
date last changed
2024-06-15 22:05:51
@article{959385fe-1d72-45a2-a7d3-6b3758a8931a,
  abstract     = {{<p>The diversity of bacteriophages is likely unparalleled in the biome due to the immense variety of hosts and the multitude of viruses that infect them. Recent efforts have led to description at the genomic level of numerous bacteriophages that infect the Actinobacteria, but relatively little is known about those infecting other prokaryotic phyla, such as the purple non-sulfur photosynthetic α-proteobacterium Rhodobacter capsulatus. This species is a common inhabitant of freshwater ecosystems and has been an important model system for the study of photosynthesis. Additionally, it is notable for its utilization of a unique form of horizontal gene transfer via a bacteriophage-like element known as the gene transfer agent (RcGTA). Only three bacteriophages of R. capsulatus had been sequenced prior to this report. Isolation and characterization at the genomic level of 26 new bacteriophages infecting this host advances the understanding of bacteriophage diversity and the origins of RcGTA. These newly discovered isolates can be grouped along with three that were previously sequenced to form six clusters with four remaining as single representatives. These bacteriophages share genes with RcGTA that seem to be related to host recognition. One isolate was found to cause lysis of a marine bacterium when exposed to high-titer lysate. Although some clusters are more highly represented in the sequenced genomes, it is evident that many more bacteriophage types that infect R. capsulatus are likely to be found in the future.</p>}},
  author       = {{Rapala, Jackson and Miller, Brenda and Garcia, Maximiliano and Dolan, Megan and Bockman, Matthew and Hansson, Mats and Russell, Daniel A. and Garlena, Rebecca A. and Cresawn, Steven G. and Westbye, Alexander B. and Beatty, J. Thomas and Alvey, Richard M. and Bollivar, Dav W.}},
  issn         = {{1932-6203}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{11 November}},
  publisher    = {{Public Library of Science (PLoS)}},
  series       = {{PLoS ONE}},
  title        = {{Genomic diversity of bacteriophages infecting Rhodobacter capsulatus and their relatedness to its gene transfer agent RcGTA}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0255262}},
  doi          = {{10.1371/journal.pone.0255262}},
  volume       = {{16}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}