Isolation, molecular characterisation and genome sequence of a bacteriophage (Chp3) from XXXX .

@entity11603 @entity61448 @entity10464 @entity11292
Chlamydiae are obligate intracellular pathogens that have a unique developmental cycle. Thirty nine viable isolates representing all nine currently recognised chlamydial species were screened by immunofluorescence with a cross-reacting chlamydiaphage monoclonal antibody. A novel chlamydiaphage ( @entity61448 ) was detected in @entity11292 , a chlamydial species not previously known to carry bacteriophages. @entity61448 belongs to the Microviridae, members of this virus family are characterised by circular, single-stranded DNA genomes and small T = 1 icosahedral capsids. Double-stranded replicative form @entity61448 DNA was purified from elementary bodies and used as a template to determine the complete genome sequence. The genome of @entity61448 is 4,554 base pairs and encodes eight open reading frames organised in the same genome structure as other chlamydiaphages. An unrooted phylogenetic tree was constructed based on the major coat proteins of 11 members of the Microviridae and @entity61448 . This showed that the Microviridae are clearly divided into two discrete sub-families; those that infect the Enterobacteriaceae e.g.   X174 and the bacteriophages that infect obligate intracellular bacteria or mollicutes including @entity10464 ( @entity10464 melliferum),   MH2K ( @entity11603 ) and the chlamydiaphages. Comparative analyses demonstrate that the chlamydiaphages can be further subdivided into two groupings, one represented by @entity61448 / @entity61448 and the other by   CPG1/  CPAR39.
