
%0 Journal Article
%A Cheong, J. P. E. 
%A Cheong, J. P. E. 
%A Brooker, J. D. 
%A Brooker, J. D. 
%T Isolation of a virulent bacteriophage from a <emph type="2">Propionibacterium</emph> species in the sheep rumen
%J Australian Journal of Agricultural Research
%D 1999/11/29
%V 51
%N 1
%P 119-124
%K 
%R https://doi.org/10.1071/AR99069
%U https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/AR99069 
%X Propionibacterium is a facultative anaerobe associated with the rumen epithelium, the presence of which may influence the anaerobic environment through oxygen scavenging, as well as providing a source of propionate. Factors such as bacteriophages that influence Propionibacterium populations may therefore be important regulators of rumen function. This study describes the isolation and identification of a ruminal Propionibacterium bacteriophage. Sheep rumen fluid was screened for Propionibacterium species and 3 isolates were identified and characterised. One isolate, PA1, was used as an indicator strain to screen for the presence of Propionibacterium-specific virulent bacteriophages. A virulent bacteriophage, PB2, was isolated from clear plaques on a lawn of PA1 cells and was shown by transmission electron microscopy to be a siphovirus-like particle comprising an icosahedral head 50 nm in diameter and a tail 140 nm in length. The bacteriophage was visibly attached to and within PA1 cells, and was shown to infect all 3 ruminal isolates of Propionibacterium and 4 of 6 clinical isolates of P. acnes. Restriction mapping of bacteriophage PB2 demonstrated a 30.8 kb genome. 
