Contrasting genome composition and codon usage in <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> temperate versus virulent phages.

ABSTRACT: Phage lifestyles impose distinct selective pressures on genome architecture and codon usage. This study compares gene length and codon usage patterns in Listeria monocytogenes phages, analysing 686 temperate and 1516 virulent phages coding sequences. Most temperate phages had significantly smaller genomes (41 022.5 ± 3225.2 kb) and shorter genes (555 ± 647.1 nt) than virulent phages (101 089.3 ± 44 030.4 kb; 629 ± 583.5 nt). Codon adaptation was higher in the temperate phages [codon adaptation index (CAI) = 0.711 ± 0.045 vs. 0.679 ± 0.047; P < 1.4 × 10^-51], while codon usage bias was stronger in the virulent phages (effective number of codons = 44.80 ± 5.863 vs. 46.00 ± 6.647; P < 1.0 × 10^-7), which also had higher guanine and cytosi

SUBMITTER: Kobakhidze S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12822063 | biostudies-literature | 2026

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature