Evaluation of the Host Range and proteomic characterization of the LucasX bacteriophage

• Grant number: 23/03129-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2023
• End date: December 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Molecular Genetics and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Maria Teresa Marques Novo Mansur
• Grantee: Gabriel Arantes Silva
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Xanthomonas is a bacterial genus of great economic interest due to its phytopathogenicity in several species of agricultural crops, such as citrus, tomato, pepper, soybean, among others. Current methodologies are inefficient in controlling this phytopathogen, and can often cause great environmental damage. In our research group, it was isolated the bacteriophage vB_XciM_LucasX, a new jumbo phage capable of infecting strains of Xanthomonas citri and X. fuscans, with great potential for use as a bioagent for control of these phytopathogens. In this work, the research previously started in our group on this phage will be expanded, investigating its ability to infect other strains and species not yet tested, in addition to evaluating its action as a potential biocontrol agent for pathologies associated with these bacteria. The data obtained from the range of possible hosts of the phage will be used to expand the pangenomic analysis with the GET_HOMOLOGUES software, evaluating which regions of the Xanthomonas genomes differ between the susceptible and resistant strains. Finally, a proteomic analysis of the viral particles will also be made using the bank of proteins annotated from the genome, recently made available by our group at NCBI. This work should contribute to broaden the characterization of this jumbo phage, including its potential as a bioagent of phytopathogens related to the genus Xanthomonas.