Complete genome analysis of two new bacteriophages isolated from impetigo strains of Staphylococcus aureus

Virus Genes. 2015 Aug;51(1):122-31. doi: 10.1007/s11262-015-1223-8. Epub 2015 Jul 2.

Abstract

Exfoliative toxin A (ETA)-coding temperate bacteriophages are leading contributors to the toxic phenotype of impetigo strains of Staphylococcus aureus. Two distinct eta gene-positive bacteriophages isolated from S. aureus strains which recently caused massive outbreaks of pemphigus neonatorum in Czech maternity hospitals were characterized. The phages, designated ϕB166 and ϕB236, were able to transfer the eta gene into a prophageless S. aureus strain which afterwards converted into an ETA producer. Complete phage genome sequences were determined, and a comparative analysis of five designed genomic regions revealed major variances between them. They differed in the genome size, number of open reading frames, genome architecture, and virion protein patterns. Their high mutual sequence similarity was detected only in the terminal regions of the genome. When compared with the so far described eta phage genomes, noticeable differences were found. Thus, both phages represent two new lineages of as yet not characterized bacteriophages of the Siphoviridae family having impact on pathogenicity of impetigo strains of S. aureus.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cluster Analysis
  • Cross Infection / epidemiology
  • Czech Republic / epidemiology
  • DNA Viruses / genetics*
  • DNA Viruses / isolation & purification
  • DNA, Viral / chemistry*
  • DNA, Viral / genetics*
  • Disease Outbreaks
  • Exfoliatins / genetics
  • Gene Order
  • Gene Transfer, Horizontal
  • Genome, Viral*
  • Hospitals, Maternity
  • Humans
  • Impetigo / epidemiology
  • Impetigo / microbiology
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Open Reading Frames
  • Phylogeny
  • Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
  • Prophages / classification
  • Prophages / genetics
  • Prophages / isolation & purification
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Sequence Homology
  • Staphylococcal Infections / epidemiology
  • Staphylococcal Infections / microbiology
  • Staphylococcus Phages / classification*
  • Staphylococcus Phages / genetics
  • Staphylococcus Phages / isolation & purification*
  • Staphylococcus aureus / isolation & purification
  • Staphylococcus aureus / virology*
  • Synteny
  • Transduction, Genetic

Substances

  • DNA, Viral
  • Exfoliatins

Associated data

  • GENBANK/KP893289
  • GENBANK/KP893290