Biological characterization and genomic analysis of the newly discovered mycobacteriophage WST1
Abstract The rising prevalence of multidrug-resistant mycobacteria necessitates novel therapeutic strategies. Phages targeting clinically relevant mycobacteria remain scarce, lytic phages represent promising alternatives. In this study, we isolated mycobacterium phage WST1 from wastewater, exhibitin...
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BMC
2025-08-01
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| Series: | BMC Microbiology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-025-04254-3 |
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| author | Xingyan Tan Xiaorui Zhang Zhiqun He Zhiping Luo Ni An Kerui Ye Donghui Ke Yuqing Li Jumei Zeng |
| author_facet | Xingyan Tan Xiaorui Zhang Zhiqun He Zhiping Luo Ni An Kerui Ye Donghui Ke Yuqing Li Jumei Zeng |
| author_sort | Xingyan Tan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The rising prevalence of multidrug-resistant mycobacteria necessitates novel therapeutic strategies. Phages targeting clinically relevant mycobacteria remain scarce, lytic phages represent promising alternatives. In this study, we isolated mycobacterium phage WST1 from wastewater, exhibiting strict lytic specificity for Mycobacterium smegmatis. Genomic analysis revealed a 38,120 bp dsDNA genome (64.60% GC) with 59 ORFs, including tyrosine integrase, hicA/B toxin-antitoxin, but no virulence or resistance genes. WST1 demonstrated broad thermal stability (4–60℃) and pH (4–9) stability, but is UV-sensitive. Phylogenetically, WST1 formed a distinct clade with mycobacterium phage IdentityCrisis, the average nucleotide identity is 83.9%, WST1 possesses a terminase which shows 100% amino acid identity to IdentityCrisis, while its endolysin shows over 90% identity to other distant phages, showcasing the modular evolution of WST1.We discovered a new, safe phage candidate useful for both phage diversity studying and genetic engineering, thereby expanding the resources for mycobacteriophage therapeutic development. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f4d28e7d1705452c931d6aa5b9cf1a2a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2180 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Microbiology |
| spelling | doaj-art-f4d28e7d1705452c931d6aa5b9cf1a2a2025-08-20T03:46:07ZengBMCBMC Microbiology1471-21802025-08-0125111010.1186/s12866-025-04254-3Biological characterization and genomic analysis of the newly discovered mycobacteriophage WST1Xingyan Tan0Xiaorui Zhang1Zhiqun He2Zhiping Luo3Ni An4Kerui Ye5Donghui Ke6Yuqing Li7Jumei Zeng8West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, West China-PUMC C.C. Chen Institute of Health, Sichuan UniversityWest China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, West China-PUMC C.C. Chen Institute of Health, Sichuan UniversityChengdu Center for Disease Control and PreventionState Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Sichuan UniversityWest China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, West China-PUMC C.C. Chen Institute of Health, Sichuan UniversityWest China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, West China-PUMC C.C. Chen Institute of Health, Sichuan UniversityWest China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, West China-PUMC C.C. Chen Institute of Health, Sichuan UniversityState Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Sichuan UniversityWest China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, West China-PUMC C.C. Chen Institute of Health, Sichuan UniversityAbstract The rising prevalence of multidrug-resistant mycobacteria necessitates novel therapeutic strategies. Phages targeting clinically relevant mycobacteria remain scarce, lytic phages represent promising alternatives. In this study, we isolated mycobacterium phage WST1 from wastewater, exhibiting strict lytic specificity for Mycobacterium smegmatis. Genomic analysis revealed a 38,120 bp dsDNA genome (64.60% GC) with 59 ORFs, including tyrosine integrase, hicA/B toxin-antitoxin, but no virulence or resistance genes. WST1 demonstrated broad thermal stability (4–60℃) and pH (4–9) stability, but is UV-sensitive. Phylogenetically, WST1 formed a distinct clade with mycobacterium phage IdentityCrisis, the average nucleotide identity is 83.9%, WST1 possesses a terminase which shows 100% amino acid identity to IdentityCrisis, while its endolysin shows over 90% identity to other distant phages, showcasing the modular evolution of WST1.We discovered a new, safe phage candidate useful for both phage diversity studying and genetic engineering, thereby expanding the resources for mycobacteriophage therapeutic development.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-025-04254-3Mycobacterium smegmatisMycobacteriophagePhage biologyTerminase-based treeEndolysin-based tree |
| spellingShingle | Xingyan Tan Xiaorui Zhang Zhiqun He Zhiping Luo Ni An Kerui Ye Donghui Ke Yuqing Li Jumei Zeng Biological characterization and genomic analysis of the newly discovered mycobacteriophage WST1 BMC Microbiology Mycobacterium smegmatis Mycobacteriophage Phage biology Terminase-based tree Endolysin-based tree |
| title | Biological characterization and genomic analysis of the newly discovered mycobacteriophage WST1 |
| title_full | Biological characterization and genomic analysis of the newly discovered mycobacteriophage WST1 |
| title_fullStr | Biological characterization and genomic analysis of the newly discovered mycobacteriophage WST1 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biological characterization and genomic analysis of the newly discovered mycobacteriophage WST1 |
| title_short | Biological characterization and genomic analysis of the newly discovered mycobacteriophage WST1 |
| title_sort | biological characterization and genomic analysis of the newly discovered mycobacteriophage wst1 |
| topic | Mycobacterium smegmatis Mycobacteriophage Phage biology Terminase-based tree Endolysin-based tree |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-025-04254-3 |
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