Genome Analysis of an Enterococcal Prophage, Entfac.MY

Maryam  Yazdanizad; Ramin  Mazaheri Nezhad Fard; Golshid  Javdani Shahedin; Mohammadreza  Salehi; Mahsa  Dumanloo; Ali Akbar Saboor Yaraghi

doi:10.18502/ajmb.v14i3.9826

Maryam Yazdanizad Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences,Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Ramin Mazaheri Nezhad Fard Department of Pathobiology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Golshid Javdani Shahedin Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
Mohammadreza Salehi Department of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mahsa Dumanloo Department of Clinical Pathobiology, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, 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.v14i3.9826

Keywords: Enterococcus faecium, Genomic analysis, Prophage

Abstract

Background: Bacteriophages are bacterial parasites. Unlike lytic bacteriophages, lysogenic bacteriophages do not multiply immediately after entering the host cells and may integrate their genomes into the bacterial genomes as prophages. Prophages can include various phenotypic and genotypic effects on the host bacteria. Enterococcus spp. are Gram-positive bacteria that cause infections in humans and animals. In recent decades, these bacteria have become resistant to various antimicrobials, including vancomycin. The aim of this study was to analyze genome of an enterococcal prophage.

Methods: In this study, Enterococcus faecium EntfacYE was isolated from biological samples and its genome was analyzed using next-generation sequencing method.

Results: Overall, 254 prophage genes were identified in the bacterial genome. The prophage included 39 housekeeping, 41 replication and regulation, 80 structural and packaging, and 48 lysis genes. Moreover, 46 genes with unknown functions were identified. All genes were annotated in DNA Data Bank of Japan.

Conclusion: In general, most prophage genes were linked to packaging and structure (31.5%) gene group. However, genes with unknown functions included a high proportion (18.11%), which indicated necessity of further analyses. Genomic analysis of the prophages can be effective in better understanding of their roles in development of bacterial resistance to antibiotics. Moreover, identification and study of prophages can help researchers develop genetic engineering tools and novel infection therapies.