TY - CONF T1 - 8. Discovery and Characterization of a Novel Bacteriophage Donny AU - Colston, Lauren E. AU - Lewis, Vanessa R. AB - Bacteriophages are viruses that replicate by infecting a specific host bacterium because they cannot reproduce on their own. The discovery of new bacteriophages as well as the study of their genome can contribute to knowledge in medicine, evolutionary biology, and cellular and molecular genetics. Therefore, using the host Mycobacterium smegmatis, we isolated a single bacteriophage from a soil sample that was extracted on the University of North Georgia’s campus. Transmission electron microscopy pictures identified the specific bacteriophage we isolated was a Siphoviridae, which we named Donny. We proceeded by amplifying our phage concentration to achieve a high titer lysate. A high titer allowed us to extract the DNA from the capsid of the bacteriophage. Sequencing the genome for Donny revealed that it is a cluster B, subcluster B5 type of bacteriophage. The subcluster B5 contains only 6 members other than Donny and have an average of 96 genes. We are currently annotating the genome of Donny using DNA Master. Through annotating the genome, we can learn about the functions of each gene. Donny is predicted to have 96 genes. Complete annotation of the genome will reveal conservation between Donny and other B phages, as well as how Donny is unique from other phages. Recently we found that, compared to other subcluster B5 bacteriophages, gene 51 is a novel gene because it is not conserved among other B5 bacteriophages. We hope to continue discovering novel genes in Donny’s genome to advance the knowledge of subcluster B5 bacteriophages. DA - 2017-3-24 PY - 2024 PB - unav N1 -

Acknowledgements:

Dr. Miriam Segura-Totten and Dr. Ryan A. Shanks

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