Aliso and Jasper: Analysis of an Extraordinary Marine Phage and a Fun-Size Freshwater Phage
Major
Biology
Submission Type
Poster
Area of Study or Work
Biology
Expected Graduation Date
2026
Location
CNS Atrium, Easel 4
Start Date
4-15-2023 10:30 AM
End Date
4-15-2023 11:45 AM
Abstract
Bacteriophages, viruses that infect bacterial cells, are thought to be the most abundant and diverse biological entities on the planet. Due to an estimated 1031 bacteriophages in the world, they can be found in nearly every environment occupied by bacteria. Their great diversity allows for new phages to be discovered each time these environments are sampled. Through the isolation and propagation of individual specimens, our research group was able to characterize two distinct phages using polymerase chain reactions, transmission electron microscopy, and genomic sequencing. Bacteriophage Aliso was found to be notably unique due to its “corn dog” shaped capsid, long tail, and marine bacterial host Ruegeria pomeroyi. This phage also forms distinctly small plaques when cultured on its bacterial host, which is likely a result of having a relatively large genome size of 149,362bp. Our other phage, Jasper, infects the host Rhodobacter capsulatus, a freshwater bacterium. It is unique amongst phages isolated this past semester due to its small capsid size and short tail length. Unlike Aliso, Jasper has a relatively small genome of 41,414bp. Through analyzing phage genomes, new strains and adaptations can be uncovered, allowing for new phages to be clustered. Aliso however is an exception to this norm and is considered to be a singleton, as it does not fit into a cluster. Interestingly, it is most closely related to another phage named Xuper which was isolated on a freshwater host. Unlike Aliso, Jasper does cluster with other known phages. It most closely demonstrates similarities with one of the more divergent members of the RcC group, Kemmy. The similarities these phages share with each other and previously isolated phages will be presented.
Aliso and Jasper: Analysis of an Extraordinary Marine Phage and a Fun-Size Freshwater Phage
CNS Atrium, Easel 4
Bacteriophages, viruses that infect bacterial cells, are thought to be the most abundant and diverse biological entities on the planet. Due to an estimated 1031 bacteriophages in the world, they can be found in nearly every environment occupied by bacteria. Their great diversity allows for new phages to be discovered each time these environments are sampled. Through the isolation and propagation of individual specimens, our research group was able to characterize two distinct phages using polymerase chain reactions, transmission electron microscopy, and genomic sequencing. Bacteriophage Aliso was found to be notably unique due to its “corn dog” shaped capsid, long tail, and marine bacterial host Ruegeria pomeroyi. This phage also forms distinctly small plaques when cultured on its bacterial host, which is likely a result of having a relatively large genome size of 149,362bp. Our other phage, Jasper, infects the host Rhodobacter capsulatus, a freshwater bacterium. It is unique amongst phages isolated this past semester due to its small capsid size and short tail length. Unlike Aliso, Jasper has a relatively small genome of 41,414bp. Through analyzing phage genomes, new strains and adaptations can be uncovered, allowing for new phages to be clustered. Aliso however is an exception to this norm and is considered to be a singleton, as it does not fit into a cluster. Interestingly, it is most closely related to another phage named Xuper which was isolated on a freshwater host. Unlike Aliso, Jasper does cluster with other known phages. It most closely demonstrates similarities with one of the more divergent members of the RcC group, Kemmy. The similarities these phages share with each other and previously isolated phages will be presented.