Characterization of Twelve Erwinia amylovora Bacteriophages

Abstract

Erwinia amylovora bacteriophages are of interest as fire blight control agents. This paper presents data on the biology and molecular genetic properties of 12 E. amylovora tailed bacteriophages. Genome sequences of seven of them were determined and the phages were identified as the representatives of Caudoviricetes; Vequintavirinae, Ounavirinae and Autographiviridae families. The bacteriophages studied were active against E. amylovora, Pantoea agglomerans and Pantoea ananatis strains. The myovirus Hena1 had the narrowest host range lysing 12% of the bacterial cultures tested, the remaining myoviruses—had broader host ranges (56%) for this collection. The phages showed different reactions to the presence of a chelating agent in the cultivation medium. A significant proportion of phage-resistant E. amylovora cells were found both in infected liquid cultures and in the experiments on the plates with the phage agar (more than 20% in case of exposure to podoviruses), which correlates with the data of limited number of previous investigations of the phenomenon for E. amylovora interactions with phages. High prevalence of resistant cells in the host cultures suggest that they are formed not due to spontaneous mutations but result from another phenotypic or genetic dissociation mechanism(s) that remains to be identified.