biostudies-literatureSubramanian SMidlands State UniversityPurdue UniversityNational Institutes of HealthCentral European Institute of TechnologyNIGMS NIH HHSNational Science Foundation24-34.e4https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC10842012biostudies-literatureUnknown32(1)There is a paucity of high-resolution structures of phages infecting Shigella, a human pathogen and a serious threat to global health. HRP29 is a Shigella podophage belonging to the Autographivirinae family, and has very low sequence identity to other known phages. Here, we resolved the structure of the entire HRP29 virion by cryo-EM. Phage HRP29 has a highly unusual tail that is a fusion of a T7-like tail tube and P22-like tailspikes mediated by interactions from a novel tailspike adaptor protein. Understanding phage tail structures is critical as they mediate hosts interactions. Furthermore, we show that the HRP29 capsid is stabilized by two novel, and essential decoration proteins, gp47 and gp48. Only one high resolution structure is currently available for Shigella podophages. The presence of a hybrid tail and an adapter protein suggests that it may be a product of horizontal gene transfer, and may be prevalent in other phages.Structure (London, England : 1993)Cryo-EM structure of a Shigella podophage reveals a hybrid tail and novel decoration proteins.PMC10842012GM14080324GM116789-03R35 GM140803U24 GM116789GM1101851750125R01 GM110185Bergland Drarvik SMTinney KRParent KNSubramanian SfalseCryo-EM structure of a Shigella podophage reveals a hybrid tail and novel decoration proteins.There is a paucity of high-resolution structures of phages infecting Shigella, a human pathogen and a serious threat to global health. HRP29 is a Shigella podophage belonging to the Autographivirinae family, and has very low sequence identity to other known phages. Here, we resolved the structure of the entire HRP29 virion by cryo-EM. Phage HRP29 has a highly unusual tail that is a fusion of a T7-like tail tube and P22-like tailspikes mediated by interactions from a novel tailspike adaptor protein. Understanding phage tail structures is critical as they mediate hosts interactions. Furthermore, we show that the HRP29 capsid is stabilized by two novel, and essential decoration proteins, gp47 and gp48. Only one high resolution structure is currently available for Shigella podophages. The presence of a hybrid tail and an adapter protein suggests that it may be a product of horizontal gene transfer, and may be prevalent in other phages.2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Jan2026-06-01T08:46:20.04Z2025-04-04T12:02:30.604ZS-EPMC108420123790904310.1016/j.str.2023.10.007