Characterization of novel bacteriophage phiC119 capable of lysing multidrug-resistant Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7

Background Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is one of the most common and widely distributed foodborne pathogens that has been frequently implicated in gastrointestinal and urinary tract infections. Moreover, high rates of multiple antibiotic-resistant E. coli strains have been reported...

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Main Authors: Luis Amarillas, Cristóbal Chaidez, Arturo González-Robles, Yadira Lugo-Melchor, Josefina León-Félix
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: PeerJ Inc. 2016-09-01
Series:PeerJ
Subjects:
Online Access:https://peerj.com/articles/2423.pdf
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author Luis Amarillas
Cristóbal Chaidez
Arturo González-Robles
Yadira Lugo-Melchor
Josefina León-Félix
author_facet Luis Amarillas
Cristóbal Chaidez
Arturo González-Robles
Yadira Lugo-Melchor
Josefina León-Félix
author_sort Luis Amarillas
collection DOAJ
description Background Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is one of the most common and widely distributed foodborne pathogens that has been frequently implicated in gastrointestinal and urinary tract infections. Moreover, high rates of multiple antibiotic-resistant E. coli strains have been reported worldwide. Due to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains, bacteriophages are considered an attractive alternative to biocontrol pathogenic bacteria. Characterization is a preliminary step towards designing a phage for biocontrol. Methods In this study, we describe the characterization of a bacteriophage designated phiC119, which can infect and lyse several multidrug-resistant STEC strains and some Salmonella strains. The phage genome was screened to detect the stx-genes using PCR, morphological analysis, host range was determined, and genome sequencing were carried out, as well as an analysis of the cohesive ends and identification of the type of genetic material through enzymatic digestion of the genome. Results Analysis of the bacteriophage particles by transmission electron microscopy showed that it had an icosahedral head and a long tail, characteristic of the family Siphoviridae. The phage exhibits broad host range against multidrug-resistant and highly virulent E. coli isolates. One-step growth experiments revealed that the phiC119 phage presented a large burst size (210 PFU/cell) and a latent period of 20 min. Based on genomic analysis, the phage contains a linear double-stranded DNA genome with a size of 47,319 bp. The phage encodes 75 putative proteins, but lysogeny and virulence genes were not found in the phiC119 genome. Conclusion These results suggest that phage phiC119 may be a good biological control agent. However, further studies are required to ensure its control of STEC and to confirm the safety of phage use.
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spelling doaj.art-ffbf74c1605e4304b3d46a5d418cf47e2023-12-03T09:47:03ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592016-09-014e242310.7717/peerj.2423Characterization of novel bacteriophage phiC119 capable of lysing multidrug-resistant Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7Luis Amarillas0Cristóbal Chaidez1Arturo González-Robles2Yadira Lugo-Melchor3Josefina León-Félix4Laboratorio de Biología Molecular y Genómica Funcional, Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A. C., Culiacán, Sinaloa, MéxicoInocuidad Alimentaria, Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A. C., Culiacán, Sinaloa, MéxicoDepartamento de Infectómica y Patogénesis Molecular, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México, MéxicoLaboratorio de Biología Molecular de la Unidad de Servicios Analíticos y Metrológicos, Centro de Investigación y Asistencia en Tecnología y Diseño del Estado de Jalisco A. C., Guadalajara, Jalisco, MéxicoLaboratorio de Biología Molecular y Genómica Funcional, Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A. C., Culiacán, Sinaloa, MéxicoBackground Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is one of the most common and widely distributed foodborne pathogens that has been frequently implicated in gastrointestinal and urinary tract infections. Moreover, high rates of multiple antibiotic-resistant E. coli strains have been reported worldwide. Due to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains, bacteriophages are considered an attractive alternative to biocontrol pathogenic bacteria. Characterization is a preliminary step towards designing a phage for biocontrol. Methods In this study, we describe the characterization of a bacteriophage designated phiC119, which can infect and lyse several multidrug-resistant STEC strains and some Salmonella strains. The phage genome was screened to detect the stx-genes using PCR, morphological analysis, host range was determined, and genome sequencing were carried out, as well as an analysis of the cohesive ends and identification of the type of genetic material through enzymatic digestion of the genome. Results Analysis of the bacteriophage particles by transmission electron microscopy showed that it had an icosahedral head and a long tail, characteristic of the family Siphoviridae. The phage exhibits broad host range against multidrug-resistant and highly virulent E. coli isolates. One-step growth experiments revealed that the phiC119 phage presented a large burst size (210 PFU/cell) and a latent period of 20 min. Based on genomic analysis, the phage contains a linear double-stranded DNA genome with a size of 47,319 bp. The phage encodes 75 putative proteins, but lysogeny and virulence genes were not found in the phiC119 genome. Conclusion These results suggest that phage phiC119 may be a good biological control agent. However, further studies are required to ensure its control of STEC and to confirm the safety of phage use.https://peerj.com/articles/2423.pdfShiga toxinPhage phiC119Genome analysisSiphoviridaeBiocontrol applicationsPhage group relationships
spellingShingle Luis Amarillas
Cristóbal Chaidez
Arturo González-Robles
Yadira Lugo-Melchor
Josefina León-Félix
Characterization of novel bacteriophage phiC119 capable of lysing multidrug-resistant Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7
PeerJ
Shiga toxin
Phage phiC119
Genome analysis
Siphoviridae
Biocontrol applications
Phage group relationships
title Characterization of novel bacteriophage phiC119 capable of lysing multidrug-resistant Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7
title_full Characterization of novel bacteriophage phiC119 capable of lysing multidrug-resistant Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7
title_fullStr Characterization of novel bacteriophage phiC119 capable of lysing multidrug-resistant Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7
title_full_unstemmed Characterization of novel bacteriophage phiC119 capable of lysing multidrug-resistant Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7
title_short Characterization of novel bacteriophage phiC119 capable of lysing multidrug-resistant Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7
title_sort characterization of novel bacteriophage phic119 capable of lysing multidrug resistant shiga toxin producing escherichia coli o157 h7
topic Shiga toxin
Phage phiC119
Genome analysis
Siphoviridae
Biocontrol applications
Phage group relationships
url https://peerj.com/articles/2423.pdf
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