[Interspecific migration and evolution of bacteriophages of the genus phiKZ: the purpose and criteria of the search for new phiKZ-like bacteriophages].

Some properties of bacteriophages with large (200 kb and more) sequenced genomes have been compared. In contrast to other large bacteriophages from different families, bacteriophages active on pseudomonads of various species (phiKZ-like bacteriophages) have some common features, which suggests their phylogenetic relationship and independence of their evolution as a result of migration among bacteria of this family. Among such common features are the absence in the genomes of these phages of sites sensitive to endonuclease PstI, the absence of genes encoding DNA polymerases that are similar to the known enzymes of this type, possible dependence of replication of the phage genome on bacterial DNA polymerase, and a considerably larger average gene size as compared to that for other phages. Criteria are suggested for searching for novel phiKZ-like bacteriophages: the size of a phage particle, production by bacteria infected with such phages of a large amount of highly viscous mucus. Taking into account the use of these bacteriophages in therapeutic preparations (due to a broad spectrum of lytic activity) and a poor knowledge of a majority of their gene products, it seems necessary to perform a more comprehensive genetic analysis of phages of this genus or their mutants for selecting those adequate for phage therapy.