A novel Dhillonvirus phage bearing a unique open reading frame of
intergeneric origin
Abstract
Escherichia Coli ( E. coli) is one of the most prevalent
bacteria in the gut and plays an important role in the formation of the
intestinal microbiome. In this study, Escherichia phage Ioannina, a
novel member of Caudoviricetes, with high lytic activity against
E. coli ATCC 25922, was isolated from hospital wastewater.
Escherichia phage Ioannina was highly resistant to a broad range of
temperatures and alkaline pH, but was sensitive to acidic pH. Whole
genome sequencing of the phage, revealed that Escherichia phage Ioannina
is a novel phage within the Dhillonvirus genus. Its genome is a
45,270 bp double-stranded DNA molecule that encodes 64 putative open
reading frames (ORFs). The phylogenetic analysis of open reading frames,
which diversified Escherichia phage Ioannina from other dhillonviruses,
indicated that ORF31 (a putative tail fiber protein) presented higher
similarity to representatives of other phage families. ORF31 was
significantly more related to similar ORFs belonging to the
Kuravirus and Tunavirus ( Drexlerviridae) genera,
indicating a possible recombination event.