Agtrevirus phage AV101 infect diverse extended spectrum β-lactamaseE. coliby recognizing four different O-antigens

Abstract

AbstractBacteriophages in theAgtrevirusgenus are known for expressing multiple tail spike proteins (TSPs), but little is known about their genetic diversity and host recognition apart from their ability to infect diverseEnterobacteriaceaespecies. Here we aim to determine the genetic differences that may account for the diverse host ranges ofAgrevirusphages. We performed comparative genomics of 14Agtrevirusand identified only a few genetic differences including genes involved in nucleotide metabolism. Most notably was the diversity of thetspgene cluster, specifically in the receptor binding domains that were unique among most of the phages. We further characterized agtrevirus AV101 infecting nine diverse Extended Spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)E. coliand demonstrated that this phage encoded four unique TSPs amongAgtrevirus. Purified TSPs formed translucent zones and inhibited AV101 infection of specific hosts, demonstrating that TSP1, TSP2, TSP3, and TSP4 recognize O8, O82, O153, and O159 O-antigens of ESBLE. coli, respectively. BLASTp analysis showed that the receptor binding domain of TSP1, TSP2, TSP3 and TSP4 are similar to TSPs encoded byE. coliprophages and distant related virulent phages. Thus,Agtrevirusmay have gained their receptor binding domains by recombining with prophages or virulent phages. Overall, combining bioinformatic and biological data expands the understanding of TSP host recognition ofAgtrevirusand give new insight into the origin and acquisition of receptor binding domains ofAckermannviridaephages.One sentence summaryAgtrevirus phage AV101 express four unique tail spike proteins that recognize different O-antigens of Extended Spectrum β-Lactamase producingE. coli.