Publications by authors named "Sherwood Casjens"

Article Synopsis
  • Lyme disease, caused by spirochete bacteria transmitted by ticks, is the most common and rapidly spreading tick-borne illness in Europe and North America.
  • Researchers sequenced the genomes of 47 Lyme disease isolates, revealing a diverse range of species and consistent plasmid features that are crucial for the bacteria's adaptation.
  • The study highlights the genetic complexities involved, such as recombination and rapid evolution, especially in genes that interact with hosts, contributing to the bacteria's virulence while maintaining a mostly clonal population structure.
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Many temperate phages encode prophage-expressed functions that interfere with superinfection of the host bacterium by external phages. phage P22 has four such systems that are expressed from the prophage in a lysogen that are encoded by the (repressor), , , and genes. Here we report that the P22-encoded SieA protein is necessary and sufficient for exclusion by the SieA system and that it is an inner membrane protein that blocks DNA injection by P22 and its relatives, but has no effect on infection by other tailed phage types.

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Bacteriophage P22 is a prototypical member of the Podoviridae superfamily. Since its discovery in 1952, P22 has become a paradigm for phage transduction and a model for icosahedral viral capsid assembly. Here, we describe the complete architecture of the P22 tail apparatus (gp1, gp4, gp10, gp9, and gp26) and the potential location and organization of P22 ejection proteins (gp7, gp20, and gp16), determined using cryo-EM localized reconstruction, genetic knockouts, and biochemical analysis.

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We present a novel method that provides a measurement of DNA pressure in viral capsids using small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). This method, unlike our previous assay, does not require triggering genome release with a viral receptor. Thus, it can be used to determine the existence of a pressurized genome state in a wide range of virus systems, even if the receptor is not known, leading to a better understanding of the processes of viral genome uncoating and encapsidation in the course of infection.

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Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato is a species complex of spirochetal bacteria that occupy different ecological niches which is reflected in their reservoir host- and vector-associations. Borrelia genomes possess numerous linear and circular plasmids. Proteins encoded by plasmid genes play a major role in host- and vector-interaction and are important for Borrelia niche adaptation.

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Many temperate phages encode prophage-expressed functions that interfere with superinfection of the host bacterium by external phages. phage P22 has four such systems that are expressed from the prophage in a lysogen that are encoded by the (repressor), , , and genes. Here we report that the P22-encoded SieA protein is the only phage protein required for exclusion by the SieA system, and that it is an inner membrane protein that blocks DNA injection by P22 and its relatives, but has no effect on infection by other tailed phage types.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The Borrelia burgdorferi species complex causes Lyme borreliosis, but understanding the genetic differences among its various genospecies is hindered by challenges in assembling complete genomes due to their complex structures and numerous plasmids.
  • - Previous genome assembly techniques have proven inadequate, but researchers used advanced HiFi PacBio sequencing and a refined workflow to successfully achieve gap-free and high-quality genome assemblies for Borrelia, including both chromosomal and plasmid sequences.
  • - The study concludes that utilizing high-fidelity sequencing and an optimized reconstruction pipeline can effectively resolve complex microbial genomes, potentially benefiting future genomic research on other microorganisms.
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Article Synopsis
  • The Anderson phage typing scheme, though being phased out for whole genome sequencing, is still useful for understanding phage-host interactions in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium.
  • Researchers sequenced 28 Anderson typing phages, categorizing them into three groups based on genetic similarities, with most being short-tailed P22-like viruses.
  • The study highlights notable genetic differences among phage pairs, which could inform phage biology and support the development of phage therapy to combat antibiotic-resistant infections.
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Bacteriophage KL-2146 is a lytic virus isolated to infect BAA2146, a pathogen carrying the broad range antibiotic resistance gene New Delhi metallo-betalactamase-1 (NDM-1). Upon complete characterization, the virus is shown to belong to the family and is a member of the Webervirus genus located within the (formerly) T1-like cluster of phages. Its double-stranded (dsDNA) genome is 47,844 bp long and is predicted to have 74 protein-coding sequences (CDS).

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Lyme disease is a multisystem disorder primarily caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. However, B. garinii, which has been identified on islands off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, is a cause of Lyme disease in Eurasia.

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Laboratory-generated hybrids between phage λ and related phages played a seminal role in establishment of the λ model system, which, in turn, served to develop many of the foundational concepts of molecular biology, including gene structure and control. Important λ hybrids with phages 21 and 434 were the earliest of such phages. To understand the biology of these hybrids in full detail, we determined the complete genome sequences of phages 21 and 434.

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Tailed bacteriophages are abundant and extremely diverse. Understanding this diversity is a challenge, and here we examine a small slice of that diversity in some detail. We contrast and compare the small genome, virulent, non-contractile tailed phages that infect the bacterial order Enterobacteriales.

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We announce the complete genome sequences of 14 bacteriophages isolated from wastewater treatment plants. These phages define two previously undescribed types which we call the Carrot-like phage cluster (phages Carrot, BigDog, LittleDog, Niamh, Opt-148, Opt-169, PhooPhighters, Rovert, Serratianator, Stoker, Swain, and Ulliraptor) and Tlacuache-like phage cluster (Tlacuache and Opt-155).

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Recombinational hybrids between phage λ and its relatives were instrumental in the beginnings of molecular biology. Here, we report the complete genome sequences of lambdoid phages 21 and 434 and three of their λ hybrids. In addition, we describe 434B, where the entire lysis gene region was replaced by cryptic prophage sequences.

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Here, the full genome sequences of 22 T1-like bacteriophages isolated from wastewater are reported. Eight (BlueShadow, Brooksby, Devorator, ElisaCorrea, Reinasaurus, SorkZaugg, Supreme284, ZeroToHero) were isolated on , six on Klebsiella (Chell, FairDinkum, HazelMika, Opt-817, P528, PeteCarol), and eight on Escherichia (Fulano1, Mishu, Opt-719, PhleaSolo, Punny, Poky, Phunderstruck, Sadiya).

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Full genome sequences of five bacteriophages that were isolated from raw sewage samples and infect hosts are presented. Brookers is a P22-like Proteus phage, OddieOddie is a 9g-like Escherichia coli phage, Diencephelon is a Kp3-like Klebsiella phage, and Rgz1 and Lilpapawes are classic T4-like and T7-like virulent Proteus phages, respectively.

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Proteus mirabilis and Klebsiella aerogenes are Gram-negative opportunistic pathogens that are responsible for nosocomial and health care-associated infections, including urinary tract infections. Here, the full genome sequences of six Chi-like Proteus (DanisaurMW, DoubleBarrel, Inception, Jing313, and NotEvenPhaged) or Klebsiella (Phraden) bacteriophages are announced, contributing to the understanding of Chi-like phages.

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The order is composed of Gram-negative bacteria that range from harmless symbionts to well-studied pathogens. We announce complete genome sequences of five related SO-1-like bacteriophages (also known as the genus) isolated from wastewater that infect Escherichia coli (Opt-212, Over9000, Pubbukkers, and Teewinot) or Shigella boydii (StarDew).

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Tailed double-stranded DNA bacteriophages inject some proteins with their dsDNA during infection. Phage P22 injects about 12, 12, and 30 molecules of the proteins encoded by genes , and , respectively. After their ejection from the virion, they assemble into a trans-periplasmic conduit through which the DNA passes to enter the cytoplasm.

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Bacteriophage L, a P22-like phage of Salmonella enterica sv Typhimurium LT2, was important for definition of mosaic organization of the lambdoid phage family and for characterization of restriction-modification systems of Salmonella. We report the complete genome sequences of bacteriophage L cI-40 13-am43 and L cII-101; the deduced sequence of wildtype L is 40,633 bp long with a 47.5% GC content.

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All members of the genus that have been examined harbour a linear chromosome that is about 900 kbp in length, as well as a plethora of both linear and circular plasmids in the 5-220 kbp size range. Genome sequences for 27 Lyme disease isolates have been determined since the elucidation of the B31 genome sequence in 1997. The chromosomes, which carry the vast majority of the housekeeping genes, appear to be very constant in gene content and organization across all Lyme disease species.

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We report the complete genome sequence of P22-like serovar Typhimurium phage MG40, whose prophage repressor specificity is different from that of other known temperate phages.

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is a pathogen responsible for significant proportions of nosocomial and health care-associated infections and is known to acquire multiple antibiotic resistance genes. Here, we announce the full genome sequences of 12 bacteriophages from samples collected in wastewater treatment facilities across the western United States.

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We present the genome sequences of tailed phages Sasha, Sergei, and Solent. These phages, along with phages 9NA, FSL_SP-062, and FSL_SP-069 and the more distantly related phage PmiS-Isfahan, have similarly sized genomes of between 52 and 57 kbp in length that are largely syntenic. Their genomes also show substantial genome mosaicism relative to one another, which is common within tailed phage clusters.

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Erwinia and Pantoea are closely related bacterial plant pathogens in the Gram negative Enterobacteriales order. Sixty tailed bacteriophages capable of infecting these pathogens have been completely sequenced by investigators around the world and are in the current databases, 30 of which were sequenced by our lab. These 60 were compared to 991 other Enterobacteriales bacteriophage genomes and found to be, on average, just over twice the overall average length.

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