A comparative genomics approach for identifying host-range determinants in Streptococcus thermophilus bacteriophages.

ABSTRACT: Comparative genomics has proven useful in exploring the biodiversity of phages and understanding phage-host interactions. This knowledge is particularly useful for phages infecting Streptococcus thermophilus, as they constitute a constant threat during dairy fermentations. Here, we explore the genetic diversity of S. thermophilus phages to identify genetic determinants with a signature for host specificity, which could be linked to the bacterial receptor genotype. A comparative genomic analysis was performed on 142 S. thermophilus phage genomes, 55 of which were sequenced in this study. Effectively, 94 phages were assigned to the group cos (DT1), 36 to the group pac (O1205), six to the group 5093, and six to the group 987. The core genome-based phylogeny of phages from the two dominating g

SUBMITTER: Szymczak P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6541646 | biostudies-literature | 2019 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature