Variants of a putative baseplate wedge protein extend the host range of Pseudomonas phage K8.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Narrow host range is a major limitation for phage applications, but phages can evolve expanded host range through adaptations in the receptor-binding proteins.

Results

Here, we report that Pseudomonas phage K8 can evolve broader host range and higher killing efficiency at the cost of virion stability. Phage K8 host range mutant K8-T239A carries a mutant version of the putative baseplate wedge protein GP075, termed GP075m. While phage K8 adsorbs to hosts via the O-specific antigen of bacterial LPS, phage K8-T239A uses GP075m to also bind the bacterial core oligosaccharide, enabling infection of bacterial strains resistant to K8 infection due to modified O-specific antigens. This mutation in GP075 also alters inter-protein interactions among phage proteins, and redu

SUBMITTER: Sun L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9887876 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature