Genome Analysis of the Enterococcus faecium Entfac.YE Prophage

Yara Elahi; Ramin  Mazaheri Nezhad Fard; Arash  Seifi; Saeideh  Mahfouzi; Ali Akbar  Saboor Yaraghi

doi:10.18502/ajmb.v14i1.8170

Yara Elahi Department of Genetics, Faculty of Life Sciences, Islamic Azad University Tehran North Branch, Tehran, Iran
Ramin Mazaheri Nezhad Fard Department of Pathobiology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Arash Seifi Department of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Saeideh Mahfouzi Department of Virology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Ali Akbar Saboor Yaraghi Department of Pathobiology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ajmb.v14i1.8170

Keywords: Anti-bacterial agents, Bacteriophages, Enterococcus faecium, Genome analysis, Prophages

Abstract

Background: Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria. Bacteriophages are widely distributed in various environments. The prevalence of bacteriophages in water sources, especially wastewaters, is naturally high. These viruses affect evolution of most bacterial species. Bacteriophages are able to integrate their genomes into the chromosomes of their hosts as prophages and hence transfer resistance genes to the bacterial genomes. Enterococci are commensal bacteria that show high resistance to common antibiotics. For example, prevalence of vancomycin-resistant enterococci has increased within the last decades.

Methods: Enterococcal isolates were isolated from clinical samples and morphological, phenotypical, biochemical, and molecular methods were used to identify and confirm their identity. Bacteriophages extracted from water sources were then applied to isolated Enterococcus faecium (E. faecium). In the next step, the bacterial genome was completely sequenced and the existing prophage genome in the bacterial genome was analyzed.

Results: In this study, E. faecium EntfacYE was isolated from a clinical sample. The EntfacYE genome was analyzed and 88 prophage genes were identified. The prophage content included four housekeeping genes, 29 genes in the group of genes related to replication and regulation, 25 genes in the group of genes related to structure and packaging, and four genes belonging to the group of genes associated with lysis. Moreover, 26 genes were identified with unknown functions.

Conclusion: In conclusion, genome analysis of prophages can lead to a better understanding of their roles in the rapid evolution of bacteria.