Mycobacteriophages targeting Mycobacterium tuberculosis, show promise as adjuncts for treating drug resistant tuberculosis. While mycobacteriophages encode mycobacterial cell wall degrading enzymes, their interaction with the host during infection is poorly understood. In other bacteria, lytic transglycosylases, homologous to mycobacterial resuscitation-promoting factor, RpfB, have been implicated in facilitating infection. Given the multiplicity of Rpf homologues in mycobacteria, we explored their individual and combined roles in mycobacteriophage infection.
Materials and Methods:
Soil-derived mycobacteriophages, MontyDev and Bora were isolated and tested on Mycobacterium smegmatis strains carrying various rpf gene deletions.
Results:
Complete loss of Rpf proteins led to ∼75% reduction in plaque formation, which was reversed by complementation with specific Rpf proteins. RfpC, RpfD, and RpfE were dispensable for bacteriophage infection, while RpfA and RpfB showed differential requirements, with MontyDev requiring both and Bora dependent on RpfB.
Conclusion:
Our data suggest potential interactions between mycobacteriophage proteins and host cell wall transglycosylases during infection.
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