Capturing RcC: The Colonization of a New Frontier
Abstract
Bacteriophages are viruses that infect and replicate only in bacterial cells. Phages that infect Rhodobacter capsulatus are a rapidly growing genus with many secrets left to discover and are a specialty of IWU students . Here we report the discovery of three new phages within the RcC cluster—RcRylan, RcStormy, and RcGunnar. Of the seven known clusters within the R. capsulatus genus, RcC is the second largest, with fourteen of the fifty-nine current isolates. The discovery of these three phages began with water samples collected in rural areas. An enrichment was performed to amplify phages from these samples which were then filtered and placed on a bed of R. capsulatus cells. These cultures were then incubated and examined for plaques that might indicate the presence of phages. Following purification of these phages, samples were sent to a lab with a transmission electron microscope to examine the individual particle morphology. Our analysis of these images suggested that these three phages were in the RcC cluster, though our measurements for each were smaller than all previously identified RcC members. Ultimately, genomic DNA sequence analysis has allowed us to confirm the cluster membership of these three phages. Additional detailed analysis will be presented that further characterizes their specific genomes and adds them to the ever-growing database.
Capturing RcC: The Colonization of a New Frontier
CNS Atrium
Bacteriophages are viruses that infect and replicate only in bacterial cells. Phages that infect Rhodobacter capsulatus are a rapidly growing genus with many secrets left to discover and are a specialty of IWU students . Here we report the discovery of three new phages within the RcC cluster—RcRylan, RcStormy, and RcGunnar. Of the seven known clusters within the R. capsulatus genus, RcC is the second largest, with fourteen of the fifty-nine current isolates. The discovery of these three phages began with water samples collected in rural areas. An enrichment was performed to amplify phages from these samples which were then filtered and placed on a bed of R. capsulatus cells. These cultures were then incubated and examined for plaques that might indicate the presence of phages. Following purification of these phages, samples were sent to a lab with a transmission electron microscope to examine the individual particle morphology. Our analysis of these images suggested that these three phages were in the RcC cluster, though our measurements for each were smaller than all previously identified RcC members. Ultimately, genomic DNA sequence analysis has allowed us to confirm the cluster membership of these three phages. Additional detailed analysis will be presented that further characterizes their specific genomes and adds them to the ever-growing database.