Efficient Broad-Spectrum Cyanophage Function Module Mining

Abstract

Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (CyanoHABs) cause health and environmental effects worldwide. Cyanophage is a virus that exclusively infects cyanobacteria. Using cyanophages to control blooms is the latest biological control method. However, little research on the genomics of cyanophages and the presence of numerous proteins with unidentified functions in cyanophage genomes pose challenges for their practical application and comprehensive investigation. We selected the broad-spectrum and efficient cyanophage YongM for our study. On the one hand, through rational analysis, we analyze essential genes, establish the minimal cyanophage genome and single essential gene modules, and examine the impact of essential modules on growth. Additionally, we conducted ultraviolet mutagenesis on YongM to generate more efficient cyanophages’ critical modules through random mutagenesis. Then, we sequenced and analyzed the functionality of the mutational gene modules. These findings highlight several gene modules that contribute to a deeper understanding of the functional components within cyanophage genomes.