Genomic analysis of bacteriophage varphiAB1, a varphiKMV-like virus infecting multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii.

摘要

We present the complete genomic sequence of a lytic bacteriophage varphiAB1 which can infect many clinical isolates of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. The recently isolated bacteriophage displays morphology resembling Podoviridae family. The varphiAB1 genome is a linear double-stranded DNA of 41,526 bp containing 46 possible open reading frames (ORFs). The majority of the predicted structural proteins were identified as part of the phage particle by mass spectrometry analysis. According to the virion morphology, overall genomic structure, and the phylogenetic tree of RNA polymerase, we propose that varphiAB1 is a new member of the varphiKMV-like phages. Additionally, we identified four ORFs encoding putative HNH endonucleases, one of which is presumed to integrate and create a genes-in-pieces DNA polymerase. Also, a potential lysis cassette was identified in the late genome. The lytic power of this bacteriophage combined with its specificity for A. baumannii makes varphiAB1 an attractive agent for therapeutic or disinfection applications.