Genomic characterization of three novel Basilisk-like phages infecting Bacillus anthracis.

BACKGROUND: In the present study, we sequenced the complete genomes of three novel bacteriophages v_B-Bak1, v_B-Bak6, v_B-Bak10 previously isolated from historical anthrax burial sites in the South Caucasus country of Georgia. We report here major trends in the molecular evolution of these phages, which we designate as "Basilisk-Like-Phages" (BLPs), and illustrate patterns in their evolution, genomic plasticity and core genome architecture. RESULTS: Comparative whole genome sequence analysis revealed a close evolutionary relationship between our phages and two unclassified Bacillus cereus group phages, phage Basilisk, a broad host range phage (Grose JH et al., J Vir. 2014;88(20):11846-11860) and phage PBC4, a highly host-restricted phage and close relative of Basilisk (Na H. et al. FEMS Microbiol. letters. 2016;363(12)). Genome comparisons of phages v_B-Bak1, v_B-Bak6, and v_B-Bak10 revealed significant similarity in sequence, gene content, and synteny with both Basilisk and PBC4. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed the three phages belong to the Siphoviridae family. In contrast to the broad host range of phage Basilisk and the single-strain specificity of PBC4, our three phages displayed host specificity for Bacillus anthracis. Bacillus species including Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus anthracoides, and Bacillus megaterium were refractory to infection. CONCLUSIONS: Data reported here provide further insight into the shared genomic architecture, host range specificity, and molecular evolution of these rare B. cereus group phages. To date, the three phages represent the only known close relatives of the Basilisk and PBC4 phages and their shared genetic attributes and unique host specificity for B. anthracis provides additional insight into candidate host range determinants.

Correction to: Genomic characterization of three novel Basilisk-like phages infecting Bacillus anthracis.

Following the publication of this article [1], the authors noted two typographical errors: one in Table 1 with regard to the location of the Basilisk Phage, which was incorrectly captured as "Kutaisis, country of Georgia Utah, USA" but should be "Utah, USA".

Analysis of differential gene expression supports a role for amyloid precursor protein and a protein kinase C substrate (MARCKS) in long-term memory.

Previous work has identified the intermediate and medial part of the hyperstriatum ventrale (IMHV) as a region of the chick brain storing information acquired through the learning process of imprinting. We have examined in this brain region changes in expression of candidate genes involved in memory. Chicks were exposed to a rotating red box and the strength of their preference for it, a measure of learning, determined. Brain samples were removed approximately 24 h after training. Candidate genes whose expressions were different in IMHV samples derived from strongly imprinted chicks relative to those from chicks showing little or no learning were identified using subtractive hybridization. The translation products of two candidate genes were investigated further in samples from the left and right IMHV and from two other brain regions not previously implicated in imprinting, the left and right posterior neostriatum. One of the proteins was the amyloid precursor protein (APP), the other was myristoylated alanine rich C kinase substrate (MARCKS). In the left IMHV the levels of the two proteins increased with the strength of learning. The effects in the right IMHV were not significantly different from those in the left. There were no effects of learning in the posterior neostriatum. This is the first study to relate changes in the amounts of MARCKS and APP proteins to the strength of learning in a brain region known to be a memory store and demonstrates that the systematic identification of protein molecules involved in memory formation is possible.