Characterization of the integrated filamentous phage Pf5 and its involvement in small-colony formation.

ABSTRACT: Bacteriophages play an important role in bacterial virulence and phenotypic variation. It has been shown that filamentous bacteriophage Pf4 of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAO1 mediates the formation of small-colony variants (SCVs) in biofilms. This morphology type is associated with parameters of poor lung function in cystic fibrosis patients, and SCVs are often more resistant to antibiotics than wild-type cells. P. aeruginosa strain PA14 also contains a Pf1-like filamentous prophage, which is designated Pf5, and is highly homologous to Pf4. Since P. aeruginosa PA14 produces SCVs very efficiently in biofilms grown in static cultures, the role of Pf5 in SCV formation under these conditions was investigated. The presence of the Pf5 replicative form in total DNA from SCVs and wild-type cell

SUBMITTER: Mooij MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3820363 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature