What is bacteriophage genome?

Bacteriophages are composed of proteins that encapsulate a DNA or RNA genome, and may have structures that are either simple or elaborate. Their genomes may encode as few as four genes (e.g. MS2) and as many as hundreds of genes.

How are bacteriophages used in DNA research?

Phage particles can be used directly carrying the vaccine antigens expressed on their surfaces. But in case of DNA vaccines the sequences that are essential for the vaccine antigen synthesis are incorporated into the phage genome and the phage would then act as vehicle for the delivery of DNA vaccine [13].

How do you compare phage genomes?

If your phage has high similarity at the DNA level to a phage in the database, it is worthwhile to line up these genomes and visualize just how related they are. An easy way to do this is by a comparison method called a dot plot, which will visualize a pairwise comparison of two sequences.

What is the genome size of bacteriophage?

Patterns of Genomic Variation The majority of phages (119 out of 130 – 92%) had genome size in the range from 35 to 100 kb, distributing uniformly across this interval. Four outliers were very small at less than 8 kb, and seven were larger than 200 kb (Figure ​1A).

How are bacteriophages used in genetic engineering?

Genetically engineered phages have been used to improve existing methods to kill bacterial hosts, provide phages with entirely novel mechanisms to kill host cells, and alter gene expression of targeted bacterial hosts (Section 3).

How are bacteriophages used as vectors in genetic engineering?

Bacteriophages provide another source of cloning vectors. Since usually, a phage has a linear DNA molecule, a single break will generate two fragments, which are later joined together with foreign DNA to generate a chimeric phage particle (Fig. 39.9). The chimeric phage can be isolated after a lytic cycle.

How do you test phage?

A spot test is a quick way to check whether a phage sample can infect a bacterium by placing a small drop or “spot” of phage onto a plate inoculated with the bacterium. This test will determine if the putative plaque will propagate phage.

What is synteny and how do we use it in genomics and genetics?

In classical genetics, syntenic genes were originally defined as genes that lie on the same chromosome. Today, however, biologists usually refer to synteny as the conservation of blocks of order within two sets of chromosomes that are being compared with each other.

What is a phage cluster?

In categorizing phages we use the term ‘clusters’ for groups of similar phages according to the usage of Hatfull and co-workers (Hatfull et al., 2010; Hatfull et al., 2013) and to avoid confusion with previously used terms such as ‘types’, ‘groups’ or current formal taxonomic classifications.