FEMS Microbiology Letters (2010) 305, 128-135

Nora Halgasova, Jana Ugorcakova, Martina Gerova, Jozef Timko and Gabriela Bukovska (2010)
Isolation and characterization of bacteriophage Phi-BP from Paenibacillus polymyxa CCM 7400
FEMS Microbiology Letters 305 (2), 128-135
Abstract: A bacteriophage Phi-BP infecting Paenibacillus polymyxa CCM 7400 was isolated from culture lysate. Electron microscopy of lysate samples revealed the presence of bacteriophage particles with polyhedral heads 56 nm in diameter and flexible noncontractile tails 144 nm in length. The profile of Phi-BP structural proteins resembles that of other bacteriophages. The Phi-BP genome consists of double-stranded DNA of 43-kbp size. Homology search of sequenced DNA fragments from EcoRI digest revealed regions with significant similarity to other known bacteriophage genes. Regions similar to phage terminase genes were identified within the 1.2-kbp fragment. Three lytic genes, two holin genes and one endolysin gene were identified within the 2.5-kbp fragment. We tested the isolates of P. polymyxa CCM 7400 for the presence of phage DNA on bacterial chromosome using PCR amplification with primers derived from proposed terminase and holin gene sequences. We confirmed the presence of Phi-BP DNA on P. polymyxa chromosome by Southern hybridization. The bacteriophage Phi-BP was capable of causing lysis of a P. polymyxaPhi-BP lysogen despite the presence of the phage DNA on bacterial chromosome. Therefore, we concluded that Phi-BP was a virulent mutant phage.
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Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
Paenibacillus polymyxa (antagonist)