Cited by 4Bacteriophages and microbial interactionsAdvanced Electron Microscopy Techniques and ApplicationsEnzyme Structure and Function

Structural basis for Salmonella infection by two Microviridae phages

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Hu, Wanlong, Liu, Zhengjie, Wei, Yuming, Bian, Qucheng, Lan, Weiqi, Fan, Chongzheng, Song, Jiaoyang, Sun, Qianqian +4 more·2025·Communications Biology

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Abstract

The global resurgence of multidrug-resistant Salmonella species, responsible for millions of annual infections, underscores the urgent need for alternative antimicrobial strategies, such as phage therapy. Microviridae phages offer a promising model for studying phage-host interactions with their unique structural and infection mechanisms. Here, we identify two Microviridae phages, PJNS001 and PJNS002, with different host receptor dependencies, and determine their cryo-EM structures at 2.68 Å and 2.59 Å resolution, respectively. These icosahedral capsids with T = 1 symmetry exhibit a unique vertex reinforcement mechanism, stabilizing the viral assembly. The specific pentameric adaptations, coupled with DNA binding protein engagements and thermodynamic constraints, collectively preclude the formation of hybrid virions. Structural analysis and in situ visualization reveal spike protein features and host-attachment intermediates, informing host specificity. Together, these findings advance our understanding of Microviridae infection mechanisms and provide a structural framework for rational phage design against antibiotic-resistant pathogens.

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Authors
Hu, W., Liu, Z., Wei, Y., Bian, Q., Lan, W., Fan, C., Song, J., Sun, Q., Zhang, X., Liu, Y., Gao, Y., & Chen, Y.
Affiliations
  • ShanghaiTech University (CN)
  • Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CN)
Corresponding author
  • Gao, Yan
  • Chen, Yibao
Venue
Communications Biology
Published
2025-08-06
Volume
8
Issue
1
Pages
1166-1166
ISSN
2399-3642 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4413019392
Cited by
4
References
80
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 1
FWCI
2.12
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Communications Biology (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Research Square (acceptedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (32402982)
  • ShanghaiTech University
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Structural Biology › Advanced Electron Microscopy Techniques and Applications
  • Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Materials Chemistry › Enzyme Structure and Function
Keywords
Salmonella, phage-host interactions, phage infection mechanism, spike protein, DNA-binding proteins, phage therapy, multidrug-resistant Salmonella
MeSH terms
Capsid, Salmonella, Salmonella Infections, Salmonella Phages, Microviridae, Virus Assembly, Cryoelectron Microscopy, Host Specificity

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