Objectives: To characterize morphological, physicochemical and genomic features of a novel virulent coliphage which was isolated from an engineered Escherichia coli culture and termed engineered E. coli phage (EEP). Methods and Results: Electron microscopy revealed that EEP has an icosahedral head (62 nm in diameter) and a long, flexible tail (138 nm in length). EEP was able to infect all 10 engineered E. coli strains kept in our laboratory, showing a strong ability to lyse engineered E. coli. Sequencing of the EEP genome revealed a double-stranded DNA (39.8 kb) with 54.72% GC content. Fifty-two open reading frames were predicted to be coding sequences, 18 of which were functionally defined and organized in a modular format, which includes modules for DNA replication, DNA packaging, structural proteins and host cell lysis. This phage could not be inactivated at 90° for 45 min and was resistant to ethanol and alkali treatment. EEP is assigned to the Siphoviridae family based on its morphological, genomic and physicochemical properties. Conclusions: A novel coliphage was isolated from engineered E. coli strains, and its morphological, genomic and physicochemical properties were characterized, which will improve our knowledge of bacteriophage diversity.

Keywords:
Bacteriophages, Coliphage, Engineered E. coli phage, Genome sequencing, Host range
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© 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel
2010
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