Genomic and biological characterization of vB_PvuS_Pm34, a novel lytic bacteriophage that infects Proteus vulgaris.

ABSTRACT

Proteus phage vB_PvuS_Pm34 (Pm34) isolated from the sewage, is a novel virus specific to Proteus vulgaris. Pm34 belonged to the family Siphovirodae with an icosahedron capsid head and a non-contractile tail. Its genome was 39,558 bp in length with a G + C content of 41.4%. Similarity analysis showed that Pm34 shared low identities of 27.6%-38.4% with any other Proteus phages, but had the 96% high identity with Proteus mirabilis AOUC-001. In the genome of Pm34, 70 open reading frames was deduced and 32 had putative functions including integrase and host lysis proteins. No tRNAs, antibiotic resistance and virulence genes were detected. Pm 34 presented a broad pH (4-8) and good temperature tolerance (<40 °C). This is the first report of the bacteriophage specific to P. vulgaris, which can enrich the knowledge of bacteriophages of Prouteus bacteria and provide the possibility for the alternative treatment of P. vulgaris infection.