The complete genome sequence of a novel T4-like bacteriophage, IME08

Excerpt

The genus ‘T4-like viruses’ includes many lytic bacteriophages that infect a wide range of bacteria, including many pathogenic ones. These phages are composed of double-stranded DNA genome held in an icosahedral head attached to a contractile tail with fibers. Sequence analysis of the major head gene (g23) has suggested that members of genus ‘T4-like viruses’ that infect Escherichia coli can be divided into four major subgroups, represented by T4, RB69, RB49 and JS98 [1]. To date, there are fewer than 40 T4-like bacteriophages whose whole genome sequences are available [2], and only T4 has been well characterized as model organism in molecular biology [3, 4]. A novel lytic enterobacteria phage, designated IME08, was isolated from hospital sewage with E. coli strain 8099 in China in 2008, and its genetic characteristics were described briefly [5]. To further characterize phage IME08 and address the taxonomic status, we sequenced and annotated its complete genome. …