Isolation and Characterization of a Shewanella Phage–Host System from the Gut of the Tunicate, Ciona intestinalis

Authors

Brittany Leigh, University of South Florida
Charlotte Karrer, University of South Florida
John P. Cannon, University of South Florida
Mya Breitbart, University of South FloridaFollow
Larry J. Dishaw, University of South Florida

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2017

Keywords

Shewanella, bacteriophage, biofilm, extracellular DNA

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.3390/v9030060

Abstract

Outnumbering all other biological entities on earth, bacteriophages (phages) play critical roles in structuring microbial communities through bacterial infection and subsequent lysis, as well as through horizontal gene transfer. While numerous studies have examined the effects of phages on free-living bacterial cells, much less is known regarding the role of phage infection in host-associated biofilms, which help to stabilize adherent microbial communities. Here we report the cultivation and characterization of a novel strain of Shewanella fidelis from the gut of the marine tunicate Ciona intestinalis, inducible prophages from the S. fidelis genome, and a strain-specific lytic phage recovered from surrounding seawater. In vitro biofilm assays demonstrated that lytic phage infection affects biofilm formation in a process likely influenced by the accumulation and integration of the extracellular DNA released during cell lysis, similar to the mechanism that has been previously shown for prophage induction.

Rights Information

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Was this content written or created while at USF?

Yes

Citation / Publisher Attribution

Viruses, v. 9, issue 3, art. 60

Scholar Commons Citation

Leigh, Brittany; Karrer, Charlotte; Cannon, John P.; Breitbart, Mya; and Dishaw, Larry J., "Isolation and Characterization of a Shewanella Phage–Host System from the Gut of the Tunicate, Ciona intestinalis" (2017). Marine Science Faculty Publications. 694.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/msc_facpub/694