Complete genome sequence of Xanthomonas phage RiverRider, a novel N4-like bacteriophage that infects the strawberry pathogen Xanthomonas fragariae

AbstractXanthomonas phage RiverRider is a novel N4-like bacteriophage and the first phage isolated from the plant pathogenXanthomonas fragariae. Electron microscopy revealed aPodoviridae morphology consisting of isometric heads and short noncontractile tails. The complete genome of RiverRider is 76,355  bp in length, with 90 open reading frames and seven tRNAs. The genome is characteristic of N4-like bacteriophages in both content and organization, having predicted proteins characterized into the functional groups of transcription, DNA metabolism, DNA replication, lysis, lysis inhibition, structu re and DNA packaging. Amino acid sequence comparisons for proteins in these categories showed highest similarities to well-characterized N4-like bacteriophages isolated fromAchromobacter xylosoxidans andErwinia amylovora. However, the tail fiber proteins of RiverRider are clearly distinct from those of other N4-like phages. RiverRider was able to infect seven different strains ofX. fragariae and none of the other species ofXanthomonas tested.

Source: Archives of Virology - April 2, 2020 Category: Virology Source Type: research