RRC ID 80303
Author Buttimer C, Khokhlova EV, Stein L, Hueston CM, Govi B, Draper LA, Ross RP, Shkoporov AN, Hill C.
Title Temperate bacteriophages infecting the mucin-degrading bacterium Ruminococcus gnavus from the human gut.
Journal Gut Microbes
Abstract Ruminococcus gnavus is a prevalent gut microbe reported to occur in higher abundance among individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This study reports the isolation and characterization of six bacteriophages (phages) isolated from human fecal material and environmental samples that infect this species. Isolated phages have a siphovirus morphology, with genomes ranging between 36.5 and 37.8 kbp. Genome analysis indicates that the phages have a temperate lifestyle, which was confirmed by their ability to form lysogens on their host bacterial species. In contrast to the finding that phages lyse their host in liquid medium, results from a mouse trial indicate these phages can co-exist with the host bacterium in the gut without causing a significant reduction of R. gnavus. The bacterial counts in the feces of phage-treated mice did not significantly differ in the presence of phage. Furthermore, analysis of publicly available gut virome sequence data indicates a high abundance of these phages among individuals suffering from IBD. This work provides the first insight into how phages interact with R. gnavus in the human gut microbiome.
Volume 15(1)
Pages 2194794
Published 2023-1-1
DOI 10.1080/19490976.2023.2194794
PMID 36994608
PMC PMC10072058
MeSH Animals Bacteria Bacteriophages* / genetics Gastrointestinal Microbiome* / genetics Humans Inflammatory Bowel Diseases* Mice Mucins Ruminococcus / genetics
Resource
General Microbes JCM 6515