Obolenskvirus Phages

Two novel virulent phages of the genus Obolenskvirus infecting Acinetobacter baumannii, a significant nosocomial pathogen, have been isolated and studied. Phages Scipio and Brutuswere able to infect A. baumannii strains belonging to K82 and K116 capsular types, respectively. The biological properties and genomic organisation of the phages were characterised.Comparative genomic, phylogenetic and pangenomic analyses were performed to investigate the relationship of Brutus and Scipio to other bacterial viruses and to trace the possible origin andevolutionary history of these phages and other representatives of the genus Obolenskvirus. The investigation of enzymatic activity of the tailspike depolymerase encoded in the genome of phageScipio, the first reported virus infecting A. baumannii of K82 capsular type, was performed. The study of new representatives of the genus Obolenskvirus and mechanisms of action of depolymerases encodedin their genomes expands knowledge about the diversity of viruses within this taxonomic group and strategies of Obolenskvirus-host bacteria interaction.