Mycobacterium Phage Butters-Encoded Proteins Contribute to Host Defense against Viral Attack.

ABSTRACT: A diverse set of prophage-mediated mechanisms protecting bacterial hosts from infection has been recently uncovered within cluster N mycobacteriophages isolated on the host, Mycobacterium smegmatis mc²155. In that context, we unveil a novel defense mechanism in cluster N prophage Butters. By using bioinformatics analyses, phage plating efficiency experiments, microscopy, and immunoprecipitation assays, we show that Butters genes located in the central region of the genome play a key role in the defense against heterotypic viral attack. Our study suggests that a two-component system, articulated by interactions between protein products of genes 30 and 31, confers defense against heterotypic phage infection by PurpleHaze (cluster A/subcluster A3) or Alma (clus

SUBMITTER: Mageeney CM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7542560 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature