Genomic Analysis of 96 <i>Paenibacillus larvae</i> Bacteriophages Including 26 from Aotearoa, New Zealand
The bacterium <i>Paenibacillus larvae</i> is responsible for the devastating honey bee (<i>Apis mellifera</i>) disease American Foulbrood. Research into bacteriophages that infect <i>P. larvae</i> is growing rapidly due to increasing antibiotic resistance and rest...
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2025-01-01
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| author | Danielle N. Kok Sophia P. Gosselin Brenham Howard Steven G. Cresawn Philippos K. Tsourkas Heather L. Hendrickson |
| author_facet | Danielle N. Kok Sophia P. Gosselin Brenham Howard Steven G. Cresawn Philippos K. Tsourkas Heather L. Hendrickson |
| author_sort | Danielle N. Kok |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The bacterium <i>Paenibacillus larvae</i> is responsible for the devastating honey bee (<i>Apis mellifera</i>) disease American Foulbrood. Research into bacteriophages that infect <i>P. larvae</i> is growing rapidly due to increasing antibiotic resistance and restrictions on antibiotic use in beehives in some countries. In this study, we present the sequenced and annotated genomes of 26 novel <i>P. larvae</i> phages recently isolated in New Zealand, which brings the total number of sequenced and annotated <i>P. larvae</i> phages to 96. The 26 novel phages belong to the pre-existing Vegas or Harrison clusters. We performed a comprehensive genomic analysis of all 96 phage genomes, grouping them into five divergent clusters and two singletons. The majority of these phages are temperate, with the possible exception of three phages that may be lytic. All 96 of these phages encode an N-acteylmuramoyl-L-alanine amidase that serves as their lysin. The amidases are from two divergent clusters, both of which show a high degree of intra-cluster similarity. Six phages and a prophage contain the Plx1 <i>P. larvae</i> toxin gene, which we suggest may be mobilizable. This study expands our knowledge of <i>P. larvae</i> phages from around the world. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a479f700ae3d4e598a569114c8d8980b |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1999-4915 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Viruses |
| spelling | doaj-art-a479f700ae3d4e598a569114c8d8980b2025-08-20T03:12:07ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152025-01-0117213710.3390/v17020137Genomic Analysis of 96 <i>Paenibacillus larvae</i> Bacteriophages Including 26 from Aotearoa, New ZealandDanielle N. Kok0Sophia P. Gosselin1Brenham Howard2Steven G. Cresawn3Philippos K. Tsourkas4Heather L. Hendrickson5School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 8041, New ZealandDepartment of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06268-3125, USABiology Department, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA 22807, USABiology Department, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA 22807, USADepartment of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USASchool of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 8041, New ZealandThe bacterium <i>Paenibacillus larvae</i> is responsible for the devastating honey bee (<i>Apis mellifera</i>) disease American Foulbrood. Research into bacteriophages that infect <i>P. larvae</i> is growing rapidly due to increasing antibiotic resistance and restrictions on antibiotic use in beehives in some countries. In this study, we present the sequenced and annotated genomes of 26 novel <i>P. larvae</i> phages recently isolated in New Zealand, which brings the total number of sequenced and annotated <i>P. larvae</i> phages to 96. The 26 novel phages belong to the pre-existing Vegas or Harrison clusters. We performed a comprehensive genomic analysis of all 96 phage genomes, grouping them into five divergent clusters and two singletons. The majority of these phages are temperate, with the possible exception of three phages that may be lytic. All 96 of these phages encode an N-acteylmuramoyl-L-alanine amidase that serves as their lysin. The amidases are from two divergent clusters, both of which show a high degree of intra-cluster similarity. Six phages and a prophage contain the Plx1 <i>P. larvae</i> toxin gene, which we suggest may be mobilizable. This study expands our knowledge of <i>P. larvae</i> phages from around the world.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/2/137honey beeAmerican FoulbroodN-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine amidasecomparative genomicsPlx1 toxinhost range |
| spellingShingle | Danielle N. Kok Sophia P. Gosselin Brenham Howard Steven G. Cresawn Philippos K. Tsourkas Heather L. Hendrickson Genomic Analysis of 96 <i>Paenibacillus larvae</i> Bacteriophages Including 26 from Aotearoa, New Zealand Viruses honey bee American Foulbrood N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine amidase comparative genomics Plx1 toxin host range |
| title | Genomic Analysis of 96 <i>Paenibacillus larvae</i> Bacteriophages Including 26 from Aotearoa, New Zealand |
| title_full | Genomic Analysis of 96 <i>Paenibacillus larvae</i> Bacteriophages Including 26 from Aotearoa, New Zealand |
| title_fullStr | Genomic Analysis of 96 <i>Paenibacillus larvae</i> Bacteriophages Including 26 from Aotearoa, New Zealand |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genomic Analysis of 96 <i>Paenibacillus larvae</i> Bacteriophages Including 26 from Aotearoa, New Zealand |
| title_short | Genomic Analysis of 96 <i>Paenibacillus larvae</i> Bacteriophages Including 26 from Aotearoa, New Zealand |
| title_sort | genomic analysis of 96 i paenibacillus larvae i bacteriophages including 26 from aotearoa new zealand |
| topic | honey bee American Foulbrood N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine amidase comparative genomics Plx1 toxin host range |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/2/137 |
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