Genomic and proteomic analysis of phiEco32, a novel Escherichia coli bacteriophage.

Abstract A novel bacteriophage infecting Escherichia coli was isolated during a large-scale screen for bacteriophages that may be used for therapy of mastitis in cattle. The 77,554-bp genome of the bacteriophage, named phiEco32, was sequenced and annotated, and its virions were characterized by electron microscopy and proteomics. Two phiEco32-encoded proteins that interact with host RNA polymerase were identified. One of them is an ECF family σ factor that may be responsible for transcription of some viral genes. Another RNA polymerase-binding protein is a novel transcription inhibitor whose mechanism of action remains to be defined.