Characterization of a Novel Tectivirus Phage Toil and Its Potential as an Agent for Biolipid Extraction.

This study reported the first tectivirus (Phage Toil) capable of infecting a member of the Actinobacteria. In this study, we showed that Phage Toil can infect oleaginous bacterium Rhodococcus opacus to release intracellular contents such as a fluorescent protein marker and TAG lipid granules, which can serve as a starting material for biodiesel production. This study demonstrates a new method to extract TAGs by using this phage. Additionally, Phage Toil can be a new model phage to advance knowledge regarding phage infection mechanisms in Rhodococcus and other mycolic acid-containing bacteria such as Mycobacterium.