Characterization of bacteriophage cd2, a siphophage infecting Carnobacterium divergens and a representative species of a new genus of phage

Britton, A.P.; Visser, K.A.; Ongenae, V.M.A.; Zhang, P.; Wassink, H.; Doerksen, T.A.; Welke, C.A.; Lynch, K.H.; Belkum, M.J. van; Dennis, J.J.; Yang, X.; Claessen, D.; Briegel, A.; Martin-Visscher, L.A.

doi:doi:10.1128/spectrum.00973-23

Carnobacterium divergens is frequently isolated from natural environments and is a predominant species found in refrigerated foods, particularly meat, seafood, and dairy. While there is substantial interest in using C. divergens as biopreservatives and/or probiotics, some strains are known to be fish pathogens, and the uncontrolled growth of C. divergens has been associated with food spoilage. Bacteriophages offer a selective approach to identify and control the growth of bacteria; however, to date, few phages targeting C. divergens have been reported. In this study, we characterize bacteriophage cd2, which we recently isolated from minced beef. A detailed host range study reveals that phage cd2 infects certain phylogenetic groups of C. divergens. This phage has a latent period of 60 min and a burst size of ~28 PFU/infected cell. The phage was found to be acid and heat sensitive, with a complete loss of phage activity when stored at pH 2 or...Show moreCarnobacterium divergens is frequently isolated from natural environments and is a predominant species found in refrigerated foods, particularly meat, seafood, and dairy. While there is substantial interest in using C. divergens as biopreservatives and/or probiotics, some strains are known to be fish pathogens, and the uncontrolled growth of C. divergens has been associated with food spoilage. Bacteriophages offer a selective approach to identify and control the growth of bacteria; however, to date, few phages targeting C. divergens have been reported. In this study, we characterize bacteriophage cd2, which we recently isolated from minced beef. A detailed host range study reveals that phage cd2 infects certain phylogenetic groups of C. divergens. This phage has a latent period of 60 min and a burst size of ~28 PFU/infected cell. The phage was found to be acid and heat sensitive, with a complete loss of phage activity when stored at pH 2 or heated to 60°C. Electron microscopy shows that phage cd2 is a siphophage, and while it shares the B3 morphotype with a unique cluster of Listeria and Enterococcus phages, a comparison of genomes reveals that phage cd2 comprises a new genus of phage, which we have termed as Carnodivirus.
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Characterization of bacteriophage cd2, a siphophage infecting Carnobacterium divergens and a representative species of a new genus of phage