In this study, we provide a comprehensive analysis of the genomic features of the phage CL31 and the infection dynamics with the biotechnologically relevant host strain Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC 13032. Genome sequencing and annotation of CL31 revealed a 45-kbp genome composed of 72 open reading frames, mimicking the GC content of its host strain (54.4%). An ANI-based distance matrix showed the highest similarity of CL31 to the temperate corynephage Φ16. While the C. glutamicum ATCC 13032 wild type strain showed only mild propagation of CL31, a strain lacking the cglIR-cglIIR-cglIM restriction-modification system was efficiently infected by this phage. Interestingly, the prophage-free strain C. glutamicum MB001 featured an even accelerated amplification of CL31 compared to the ∆resmod strain suggesting a role of cryptic prophage elements in phage defense. Proteome analysis of purified phage particles and transcriptome analysis provide important insights into structural components of the phage and the response of C. glutamicum to CL31 infection. Isolation and sequencing of CL31-resistant strains revealed SNPs in genes involved in mycolic acid biosynthesis suggesting a role of this cell envelope component in phage adsorption. Altogether, these results provide an important basis for further investigation of phage-host interactions in this important biotechnological model organism.
Keywords: CL31; Corlili; corynephage; phage-host interaction; tandem repeats.