Brussowvirus SW13 requires a cell surface-associated polysaccharide to recognise its < em > Streptococcus thermophilus < /em > host

Appl Environ Microbiol. 2021 Oct 20:AEM0172321. doi: 10.1128/AEM.01723-21. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTFour bacteriophage insensitive mutants (BIMs) of the dairy starter bacterium Streptococcus thermophilus UCCSt50 were isolated following a challenge with the Brussowvirus SW13. The BIMs displayed an altered, sedimentation phenotype. Whole genome sequencing and comparative genomic analysis of the BIMs uncovered mutations within a family-2-glycosyltransferase-encoding gene (orf06955UCCSt50) located within the variable region of the cell wall-associated rhamnose-glucose polymer (Rgp) biosynthesis locus (designated here as the rgp gene cluster). Complementation of a representative BIM, S. thermophilus B1, with native orf06955UCCSt50 restored phage sensitivity comparable to that of the parent strain. Detailed bioinformatic analysis of the gene product of orf06955UCCSt50 identified it as a functional homolog of the Lactococcus lactis polysaccharide pellicle (PSP) initiator, WpsA. Biochemical analysis of cell wall fractions of strains UCCSt50 and B1 determined that mutations within orf06955UCCSt50 result in the loss of the side chain decoration from the Rgp backbone structure. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the intact Rgp structure incorporating the side chain structure is essential for phage binding through fluorescent labelling studies. Overall, this study confirms that the rgp gene cluster of S. thermophilus encodes the biosynthetic machinery for a cell surface-associate...
Source: Applied and Environmental Microbiology - Category: Microbiology Authors: Source Type: research