Phage-inducible chromosomal minimalist islands (PICMIs), a novel family of small marine satellites of virulent phages

Rubén Barcia-Cruz, David Goudenège, Jorge A. Moura de Sousa, Damien Piel, Martial Marbouty, Eduardo P. C. Rocha and Frédérique Roux ()
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Rubén Barcia-Cruz: Station Biologique de Roscoff
David Goudenège: Station Biologique de Roscoff
Jorge A. Moura de Sousa: Microbial Evolutionary Genomics
Damien Piel: Station Biologique de Roscoff
Martial Marbouty: Organization and Dynamics of Viral Genomes Group, CNRS UMR 3525
Eduardo P. C. Rocha: Microbial Evolutionary Genomics
Frédérique Roux: Station Biologique de Roscoff

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Abstract Phage satellites are bacterial genetic elements that co-opt phage machinery for their own dissemination. Here we identify a family of satellites, named Phage-Inducible Chromosomal Minimalist Islands (PICMIs), that are broadly distributed in marine bacteria of the family Vibrionaceae. A typical PICMI is characterized by reduced gene content, does not encode genes for capsid remodelling, and packages its DNA as a concatemer. PICMIs integrate in the bacterial host genome next to the fis regulator, and encode three core proteins necessary for excision and replication. PICMIs are dependent on virulent phage particles to spread to other bacteria, and protect their hosts from other competitive phages without interfering with their helper phage. Thus, our work broadens our understanding of phage satellites and narrows down the minimal number of functions necessary to hijack a tailed phage.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-44965-1

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