Isolation and Characterization of a Novel Temperate Escherichia coli Bacteriophage, Kapi1, Which Modifies the O-Antigen and Contributes to the Competitiveness of Its Host during Colonization of the Murine Gastrointestinal Tract
Kat Pick, Tingting Ju, Benjamin P. Willing, Tracy Raivio
Abstract
Although research exploring the microbiome has exploded in recent years, our understanding of the viral component of the microbiome is lagging far behind our understanding of the bacterial component. The vast majority of intestinal bacteria carry prophages integrated into their chromosomes, but most of these bacteriophages remain uncharacterized and unexplored. Here, we isolate and characterize a novel temperate bacteriophage infecting a commensal strain of Escherichia coli. We aim to explore the interactions between bacteriophages and their hosts in the context of the gastrointestinal tract, asking what role(s) temperate bacteriophages may play in growth and survival of bacteria in the gut. Understanding the fundamental biology of gut commensal bacteria can inform the development of novel antimicrobial or probiotic strategies for intestinal infections.