12/111phia prophage domestication is associated with autoaggregation and increased ability to produce biofilm in streptococcus agalactiae

Abstract

CC17 Streptococcus agalactiae carrying group‐A prophages is increasingly responsible for neonatal infections. To investigate the impact of the genetic features of a group‐A prophage, we first conducted an in silico analysis of the genome of 12/111phiA, a group‐A prophage carried by a strain responsible for a bloodstream infection in a parturient. This revealed a Restriction Modification system, suggesting a prophage maintenance strategy and five ORFs of interest for the host and encoding a type II toxin antitoxin system RelB/YafQ, an endonuclease, an S‐adenosylmethionine synthetase MetK, and an StrP‐like adhesin. Using the WT strain cured from 12/111phiA and constructing deleted mutants for the ORFs of interest, and their complemented mutants, we demonstrated an impact of prophage features on growth characteristics, cell morphology and biofilm formation. Our findings argue in favor of 12/111phiA domestication by the host and a role of prophage features in cell autoaggregation, glycocalyx and biofilm formation. We suggest that lysogeny may promote GBS adaptation to the acid environment of the vagina, consequently colonizing and infecting neonates.