Characterization of Bacillus phage-K2 isolated from chungkookjang, a fermented soybean foodstuff

J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol. 2011 Jan;38(1):39-42. doi: 10.1007/s10295-010-0825-3. Epub 2010 Sep 5.

Abstract

An investigation of a virulent Bacillus phage-K2 (named Bp-K2) isolated from chungkookjang (a fermented soybean foodstuff) was made. Bp-K2 differed in infectivity against a number of Bacillus subtilis strains including starter strains of chungkookjang and natto, being more infectious to Bacillus strains isolated from the chungkookjang, but much less active against a natto strain. Bp-K2 is a small DNA phage whose genome size is about 21 kb. Bp-K2 is a tailed bacteriophage with an isometric icosahedral head (50 nm long on the lateral side, 80 nm wide), a long contractile sheath (85-90 nm × 28 nm), a thin tail fiber (80-85 nm long, 10 nm wide), and a basal plate (29 nm long, 47 nm wide) with a number of spikes, but no collar. The details of the structures of Bp-K2 differ from natto phage ϕBN100 as well as other known Bacillus phages such as SPO1-like or ϕ 29-like viruses. These data suggest that Bp-K2 would be a new member of the Myoviridae family of Bacillus bacteriophages.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacillus Phages / classification
  • Bacillus Phages / isolation & purification*
  • Bacillus Phages / ultrastructure
  • Bacillus subtilis / virology
  • Fermentation
  • Food Microbiology*
  • Glycine max / virology*
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Myoviridae / classification
  • Myoviridae / isolation & purification*
  • Myoviridae / ultrastructure