Sequencing, genome analysis and host range of a novel Ralstonia phage, RsoP1EGY, isolated in Egypt

A novel Ralstonia phage was isolated from soil in Egypt. It was designated Ralstonia phage RsoP1EGY using our phage identifier naming approach to reflect the phage’s bacterial host species, characteristics and origin. When tested, this phage specifically infected only race 3 biovar 2 phylotype IIB sequevar 1, and not non-race 3 biovar 2 strains of Ralstonia solanacearum. The phage has an icosahedral capsid of 60 ± 5 nm in diameter with a short tail of 15 ± 5 nm in length, typical of a podovirus. The genome of RsoP1EGY is 41,297 bp in size, containing 50 open reading frames, with no significant sequence identity to any other reported R. solanacearum or non-Ralstonia phages, except to the recently deposited but unreported and unclassified Ralstonia phage DU_RP_I. RsoP1EGY is the first sequenced and characterized R. solanacearum phage isolated in Egypt.