Genomic and biological characteristics of a novel lytic phage, vB_MscM-PMS3, infecting the opportunistic zoonotic pathogen Mammaliicoccus sciuri

AbstractMammaliicoccus sciuri is an opportunistic zoonotic pathogen in humans and animals. We isolated theMammaliicoccus phage vB_MscM-PMS3, which was also able to infect and lyseM. sciuri andM. lentus. The phage genome is a linear dsDNA that is 147,811 bp in length and contains 206 ORFs and three tRNA genes. It showed low genome coverage (<  17%) and sequence identity (<  91.3%) to other phage genomes. Phylogenetic analysis based on the whole genome and major capsid protein revealed that this phage clustered with members of the subfamilyTwortvirinae of the familyHerelleviridae, but it was distinctly separated from the other members, indicating its uniqueness.

Source: Archives of Virology - December 11, 2023 Category: Virology Source Type: research