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The Isolation And Characterization Of Bacteriophage Hasitha, Gillian Brown
The Isolation And Characterization Of Bacteriophage Hasitha, Gillian Brown
Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects
Microbacteriophage Hasitha is a virus that infects Microbacterium foliorum, a bacterium associated with grasses that was first discovered in Germany. Hasitha was isolated from an enriched compost sample and is of particular interest due to its unusual growth pattern. Most bacteriophages require actively growing host cells to produce new phage progeny. However, Hasitha can infect and kill stationary (non-replicating) bacterial cells. We discovered this unusual characteristic through a fortuitous observation of infected lawns that were allowed to incubate in the lab workspace for approximately one month. During this time, a noticeable “halo” grew around the initial site of infection …
An Approach To Identify Mycobacteriophage Diversity Prior To Dna Sequencing, Charles Gregory
An Approach To Identify Mycobacteriophage Diversity Prior To Dna Sequencing, Charles Gregory
Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects
Over 6,869 Mycobacteriophages have been isolated and purified. Of these, 1,367 genomes have been sequenced at the DNA level and more are added each year through the SEA-PHAGES program. Sequenced mycobacteriophages are grouped into clusters based on a 50% or greater nucleotide identity. The number and breadth of these clusters represents the diversity present in the environment. Each year, as new phages are discovered by students in the SEA-PHAGES program, the question arises, “Which isolates should we sequence?” In order to sequence phages that represent the greatest possible diversity, and thus broaden under-represented clusters and identify new singletons, we need …
The Isolation And Characterization Of Tirotheta9, A Novel A4 Mycobacterium Phage, Sarah Schrader
The Isolation And Characterization Of Tirotheta9, A Novel A4 Mycobacterium Phage, Sarah Schrader
Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects
Bacteriophages are the most abundant biological entities on earth, yet relatively few have been characterized. In this project, a novel bacteriophage was isolated from the environment, characterized, and compared with others in the databases. Mycobacterium smegmatis, a harmless soil bacterium, served as the host and facilitated the enrichment and recovery of mycobacteriophages. A single phage type was purified to homogeneity and named TiroTheta9 (TT9). Electron microscopy revealed that the phage particles have icosahedral heads 58 ± 2 nm in diameter and tails 174 ± 5 nm in length. The TT9 genomic DNA was purified and sequenced using 454 pyrosequencing …