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Title: Rapid de novo evolution of lysis genes in single-stranded RNA phages
Abstract Leviviruses are bacteriophages with small single-stranded RNA genomes consisting of 3-4 genes, one of which (sgl) encodes a protein that induces the host to undergo autolysis and liberate progeny virions. Recent meta-transcriptomic studies have uncovered thousands of leviviral genomes, but most of these lack an annotatedsgl, mainly due to the small size, lack of sequence similarity, and embedded nature of these genes. Here, we identifysglgenes in 244 leviviral genomes and functionally characterize them inEscherichia coli. We show that leviviruses readily evolvesglgenes and sometimes have more than one per genome. Moreover, these genes share little to no similarity with each other or to previously knownsglgenes, thus representing a rich source for potential protein antibiotics.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1358941
PAR ID:
10612314
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Publisher / Repository:
www.nature.com
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Nature Communications
Volume:
11
Issue:
1
ISSN:
2041-1723
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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