Isolation and characterization of the novel Virgibacillus-infecting bacteriophage Mimir87

Arch Virol. 2020 Mar;165(3):737-741. doi: 10.1007/s00705-019-04516-2. Epub 2019 Dec 24.

Abstract

The novel bacterial virus Mimir87, infecting the salt-tolerant bacterium Virgibacillus halotolerans, was isolated from worker honey bees. Mimir87 has an elongated head and a long non-contractile tail consistent with members of the Siphoviridae phage family. The phage genome comprises 48,016 base pairs and encodes 68 predicted proteins, to 34 of which a function could be assigned from homology analysis. The phage encodes two metabolism-related transporter proteins previously not observed in bacteriophage genomes. Mimir87 displays some relatedness to several Bacillus and Paenibacillus viruses; however, the overall sequence dissimilarity suggests Mimir87 to be a representative of a new phage genus.

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • DNA, Viral / genetics
  • Genome, Viral / genetics
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Siphoviridae / classification*
  • Siphoviridae / genetics*
  • Siphoviridae / isolation & purification
  • Viral Proteins / genetics*
  • Virgibacillus / virology*

Substances

  • DNA, Viral
  • Viral Proteins