Characterization and comparative genomic analysis of a marine <i>Bacillus</i> phage reveal a novel viral genus

Although recent metagenomics research has obtained a wealth of phage genetic information, much of it is considered "dark matter" because of the lack of similarity with known sequences in the database. Therefore, the isolation and characterization of novel phages will help to interpret the vast unknown viral metagenome data and improve our understanding of phage diversity and phage-host interactions. <i>Bacillus pumilus</i> shows high economic relevance due to its wide applications in biotechnology, industry, biopharma, and environmental sectors. Since phages influence the abundance, metabolism, evolution, fitness, and ecological functions of bacteria through complex interactions, the significance of isolation and characterization of novel phages infecting <i>B. pumilus</i> is apparent. In this study, we isolated and characterized a <i>B. pumilus</i> phage belonging to a novel viral genus, which provides essential knowledge for phage biology as well as the industrial application of <i>B. pumilus</i>.