Bacteriophage vB_EcoM_FV3: a new member of rV5-like viruses

A proposed new genus of the family Myoviridae, rV5-like viruses, includes two lytic bacteriophages: Escherichia coli O157: H7-specific bacteriophage rV5 and Salmonella phage PVP-SE1. Here, we present basic properties and genomic characterization of a novel rV5-like phage, vB_EcoM_FV3, which infects E. coli K-12-derived laboratory strains and replicates at high temperature (up to 47 A degrees C). The 136,947-bp genome of vB_EcoM_FV3 contains 218 open reading frames and encodes 5 tRNAs. The genomic content and organization of vB_EcoM_FV3 is more similar to that of rV5 than to PVP-SE1, but all three phages share similar morphological characteristics and form a homogeneous phage group.