A satellite in the phage universe: isolation and characterization of six novel Streptomyces phages AndoPrime, Ando, Arkania, Jaresh, Tatooine, and Galidraan.

Streptomyces are soil-dwelling actinomycetes whose complex multicellular development is tightly linked to the production of bioactive specialized metabolites. The constant phage predation has continuously driven their evolution, whilst the complex development and metabolite secretion has co-evolved in response to the phage pressure shaping these interactions. Here, we report the isolation and characterization of six novel phages with one being a phage satellite, that were isolated as part of a public outreach program within the framework of the priority program SPP2330 involving local high schools. Five of the phages (i.e. AndoPrime, Ando, Arkania, Jaresh, and Tatooine) were isolated on Streptomyces griseus, while Galidraan was isolated on Streptomyces galbus. All phages exhibit a siphoviral morphotype except Arkania, which shows a podoviral morphotype. The isolates are virulent, with the exception of the satellite phage Ando, which is predicted to be a temperate phage. This distinct phage harbors a relatively small 13-kb genome encoding an integrase but lacks genes for lysis and tail proteins, rendering it dependent on its helper phage AndoPrime for productive infection. Collectively, this study expands the repertoire of characterized Streptomyces phages and provides new insights into their diversity and evolutionary dynamics within the complex host, shaping ecological interactions.