Comparative genomics of Bacillus thuringiensis phage 0305phi8-36: defining patterns of descent in a novel ancient phage lineage.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The recently sequenced 218 kb genome of morphologically atypical Bacillus thuringiensis phage 0305phi8-36 exhibited only limited detectable homology to known bacteriophages. The only known relative of this phage is a string of phage-like genes called BtI1 in the chromosome of B. thuringiensis israelensis. The high degree of divergence and novelty of phage genomes pose challenges in how to describe the phage from its genomic sequences.

Results

Phage 0305phi8-36 and BtI1 are estimated to have diverged 2.0 - 2.5 billion years ago. Positionally biased Blast searches aligned 30 homologous structure or morphogenesis genes between 0305phi8-36 and BtI1 that have maintained the same gene order. Functional clustering of the genes helped identify additional gene functions. A

SUBMITTER: Hardies SC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2147016 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature