Genomic analysis of Anderson typing phages of Salmonella Typhimrium: towards understanding the basis of bacteria-phage interaction

Abstract

The Anderson phage typing scheme has been successfully used worldwide for epidemiological surveillance of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. Although the scheme is being replaced by whole genome sequence subtyping methods, it can provide a valuable model system for study of phage-host interaction. The phage typing scheme distinguishes more than 300 definitive types of Salmonella Typhimurium based on their patterns of lysis to a unique collection of 30 specific Salmonella phages. In this study, we sequenced the genomes of 28 Anderson typing phages of Salmonella Typhimurium to begin to characterize the genetic determinants that are responsible for the differences in these phage type profiles. Genomic analysis of typing phages reveals that Anderson phages can be classified into three different groups, the P22-like, ES18-like and SETP3-like clusters. Most Anderson phages are short tailed P22-like viruses (genus Lederbergvirus); but phages STMP8 and STMP18 are very closely related to the lambdoid long tailed phage ES18, and phages STMP12 and STMP13 are related to the long noncontractile tailed, virulent phage SETP3. Most of these typing phages have complex genome relationships, but interestingly, two phage pairs STMP5 and STMP16 as well as STMP12 and STMP13 differ by a single nucleotide. The former affects a P22-like protein involved in DNA passage through the periplasm during its injection, and the latter affects a gene whose function is unknown. Using the Anderson phage typing scheme would provide insights into phage biology and the development of phage therapy for the treatment of antibiotic resistant bacterial infections.

Biological Characterization and Genomic Analysis of Three Novel Serratia- and Enterobacter-Specific Virulent Phages

“…As an example, salmophages isolated by Wójcicki and co-workers [38], in addition to Salmonella enterica species, also infected saprophytic bacterial strains from Escherichia coli and Enterobacter cloacae species [38]. Understanding the complex dynamics of bacteria-phage interaction will ensure the development of effective biocontrol and phage therapy [49]. phage KKP_3708, this phage was classified as highly virulent.…”

“…As an example, salmophages isolated by Wójcicki and co-workers [38], in addition to Salmonella enterica species, also infected saprophytic bacterial strains from Escherichia coli and Enterobacter cloacae species [38]. Understanding the complex dynamics of bacteria-phage interaction will ensure the development of effective biocontrol and phage therapy [49]. In each case, infection with the tested bacteriophages resulted in a delay in the logarithmic growth phase of the bacterial culture compared to the control culture (bacterial strain not treated with phage).…”

Prevalence and Antimicrobial Resistance Diversity of Salmonella Isolates in Jiaxing City, China

“…Phage therapy was considered as an alternative to antibiotics for the treatment of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. Genomic analysis of Anderson typing phages of S. Typhimrium was used to understand the complex dynamics of bacteria-phage interaction through characterizing the genetic determinants that are responsible for their differing host ranges [19].…”