Prevalence, genetic diversity, and host range of tectiviruses among members of the Bacillus cereus group.

ABSTRACT: GIL01, Bam35, GIL16, AP50, and Wip1 are tectiviruses preying on the Bacillus cereus group. Despite the significant contributions of phages in different biological processes, little is known about the dealings taking place between tectiviruses and their Gram-positive bacterial hosts. Therefore, this work focuses on characterizing the interactions between tectiviruses and the B. cereus group by assessing their occurrence and genetic diversity and evaluating their host range. To study the occurrence of tectiviruses in the B. cereus group, 2,000 isolates were evaluated using primers designed to be specific to two variable regions detected in previously described elements. PCR and propagation tests revealed that tectivirus-like elements occurred in less than 3% of the isolates. Regardless of th

SUBMITTER: Gillis A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4068676 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature