Comparative Genomics of Closely-Related Gordonia Cluster DR Bacteriophages

Bacteriophages infecting bacteria of the genus Gordonia have increasingly gained interest in the scientific community for their diverse applications in agriculture, biotechnology, and medicine, ranging from biocontrol agents in wastewater management to the treatment of opportunistic pathogens in pulmonary disease patients. However, due to the time and costs associated with experimental isolation and cultivation, host ranges for many bacteriophages remain poorly characterized, hindering a more efficient usage of bacteriophages in these areas. Here, we perform a series of computational genomic inferences to predict the putative host ranges of all Gordonia cluster DR bacteriophages known to date. Our analyses suggest that BiggityBass (as well as several of its close relatives) is likely able to infect host bacteria from a wide range of genera-from Gordonia to Nocardia to Rhodococcus, making it a suitable candidate for future phage therapy and wastewater treatment strategies.

Automated summary

Bacteriophages infecting bacteria of the genus Gordonia have diverse applications in agriculture, biotechnology, and medicine. The putative host ranges of these bacteriophages were predicted using computational genomic inferences. The results suggest potential use of BiggityBass and its close relatives in phage therapy and wastewater treatment strategies.