Isolation and characterization of bacteriophage NTR1 infectious for Nocardia transvalensis and other Nocardia species.

We describe here the isolation and characterization of the bacteriophage, NTR1 from activated sludge. This phage is lytic for Nocardia transvalensis, Nocardia brasiliensis and Nocardia farcinica. NTR1 phage has a genome sequence of 65,275 bp in length, and its closest match is to the Skermania piniformis phage SPI1 sharing over 36% of its genome. The phage belongs to the Siphoviridae family, possessing a long non-contractile tail and icosahedral head. Annotation of the genome reveals 97 putative open reading frames arranged in the characteristic modular organization of Siphoviridae phages and contains a single tRNA-Met gene.

Locating and Activating Molecular 'Time Bombs': Induction of Mycolata Prophages.

Little is known about the prevalence, functionality and ecological roles of temperate phages for members of the mycolic acid producing bacteria, the Mycolata. While many lytic phages infective for these organisms have been isolated, and assessed for their suitability for use as biological control agents of activated sludge foaming, no studies have investigated how temperate phages might be induced for this purpose. Bioinformatic analysis using the PHAge Search Tool (PHAST) on Mycolata whole genome sequence data in GenBank for members of the genera Gordonia, Mycobacterium, Nocardia, Rhodococcus, and Tsukamurella revealed 83% contained putative prophage DNA sequences. Subsequent prophage inductions using mitomycin C were conducted on 17 Mycolata strains. This led to the isolation and genome characterization of three novel Caudovirales temperate phages, namely GAL1, GMA1, and TPA4, induced from Gordonia alkanivorans, Gordonia malaquae, and Tsukamurella paurometabola, respectively. All possessed highly distinctive dsDNA genome sequences.

Novel application of bacteriophage for controlling foaming in wastewater treatment plant- an eco-friendly approach.

This addendum to "Novel application of bacteriophage for controlling foaming in wastewater treatment plant- an eco-friendly approach " includes characteristics of the phages NOC1, NOC2 and NOC3 not discussed in the previous paper. The phage adsorption and host interaction properties, their sensitivity to pH and temperature are inferred. NOC2 is seen to be more temperature resistant while others are not. All the phages show pH sensitivity. There is a variance observed in the behavior of these phages. Also, applicability of the phage based system to large scale reactors is studied and discussed here.

Meningoencefalitis por Nocardia spp: Reporte de un caso y revisión de la literatura / Nocardia spp meningoencephalitis: A case report and literature review

Resumen La nocardiosis es una rara infección oportunista que afecta principalmente a pacientes con alteración de la inmunidad celular, como pacientes con síndrome de inmunodeficiencia adquirida o postrasplantes. El compromiso del sistema nervioso central es generalmente como absceso y menos frecuentemente como meningitis primaria. El presente artículo hace el reporte de un caso de meningitis primaria por Nocardia en paciente inmunocompetente y revisión de la literatura.

Nocardiosis is a rare opportunistic disease that affects mainly patients with deficient cell-mediated immunity, such as those with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or transplant recipients. The central nervous system presentation is as cerebral abscesses and less frequently, as primary meningitis. Here, a case of primary nocardia meningitis is described in a patient without a predisposing condition, along with a literature review.

Genome sequence of the Nocardia bacteriophage NBR1.

We here characterize a novel bacteriophage (NBR1) that is lytic for Nocardia otitidiscaviarum and N. brasiliensis. NBR1 is a member of the family Siphoviridae and appears to have a structurally more complex tail than previously reported Siphoviridae phages. NBR1 has a linear genome of 46,140 bp and a sequence that appears novel when compared to those of other phage sequences in GenBank. Annotation of the genome reveals 68 putative open reading frames. The phage genome organization appears to be similar to other Siphoviridae phage genomes in that it has a modular arrangement.

Characterization of the genome of the polyvalent lytic bacteriophage GTE2, which has potential for biocontrol of Gordonia-, Rhodococcus-, and Nocardia-stabilized foams in activated sludge plants.

Hydrophobic Actinobacteria are commonly associated with the stabilization of foams in activated sludge systems. One possible attractive approach to control these foam-stabilizing organisms is the use of specific bacteriophages. We describe the genome characterization of a novel polyvalent DNA phage, GTE2, isolated from activated sludge. This phage is lytic for Gordonia terrae, Rhodococcus globerulus, Rhodococcus erythropolis, Rhodococcus erythropolis, Nocardia otitidiscaviarum, and Nocardia brasiliensis. Phage GTE2 belongs to the family Siphoviridae, possessing a characteristic icosahedral head encapsulating a double-stranded DNA linear genome (45,530 bp) having 10-bp 3'-protruding cohesive ends. The genome sequence is 98% unique at the DNA level and contains 57 putative genes. The genome can be divided into two components, where the first is modular and encodes phage structural proteins and lysis genes. The second is not modular, and the genes harbored there are involved in DNA replication, repair, and metabolism. Some have no known function. GTE2 shows promising results in controlling stable foam production by its host bacteria under laboratory conditions, suggesting that it may prove useful in the field as a biocontrol agent.