Establishment of a Genetic Platform for Studying Rhodobacteraceae Bacteriophages
Major
Biology
Submission Type
Oral Presentation
Area of Study or Work
Biology
Faculty Advisor
Richard Alvey
Location
CNS E104
Start Date
4-11-2026 8:30 AM
End Date
4-11-2026 9:30 AM
Abstract
Bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria) rely on their bacterial hosts for replication. This complex predator-prey relationship forms the basis of the evolutionary arms race, which drives genetic divergence in both lineages. The family Rhodobacteraceae comprises a diverse group of chemoorganotrophs and photoheterotrophs that occupy various ecological niches. Despite growing recognition of the role of bacteriophages in shaping microbial communities, relatively little is known about the diversity of phages infecting this family or the molecular mechanisms governing their interactions with the host bacteria. At the Alvey Lab, we are interested in understanding the evolutionary diversity of Rhodobacteraceae-infecting bacteriophages and the phage-host interactions that have driven it using Rhodobacter capsulatus as a model host. More recently, we have expanded our investigations to include three marine members of the same family. Using environmental samples, we have assembled a collection of phages isolated across these different hosts. While certain phage types are currently specific to particular hosts, we have found evidence of extensive gene sharing between our isolates using comparative genomics, suggesting a phage gene pool shaped by recombination and modular exchange. Consequently, we have begun exploring the use of targeted knock-in and knockout studies in R. capsulatus to study the effect of individual genes on a phage’s fitness as well as identify potential genes that are involved in phage susceptibility. However, a major limitation has been the lack of a standardized system for introducing foreign DNA into these hosts. In this study, we report the design, construction, and validation of pExTraRc – a plasmid that can be used to perform knock-in studies in R. capsulatus. Our work would enable further studies looking at the effect of individual phage genes, provide insight into the dynamics of phage-host interactions within Rhodobacteraceae, and expand our understanding of mechanisms involved in a phage’s adaptation to novel hosts.
Establishment of a Genetic Platform for Studying Rhodobacteraceae Bacteriophages
CNS E104
Bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria) rely on their bacterial hosts for replication. This complex predator-prey relationship forms the basis of the evolutionary arms race, which drives genetic divergence in both lineages. The family Rhodobacteraceae comprises a diverse group of chemoorganotrophs and photoheterotrophs that occupy various ecological niches. Despite growing recognition of the role of bacteriophages in shaping microbial communities, relatively little is known about the diversity of phages infecting this family or the molecular mechanisms governing their interactions with the host bacteria. At the Alvey Lab, we are interested in understanding the evolutionary diversity of Rhodobacteraceae-infecting bacteriophages and the phage-host interactions that have driven it using Rhodobacter capsulatus as a model host. More recently, we have expanded our investigations to include three marine members of the same family. Using environmental samples, we have assembled a collection of phages isolated across these different hosts. While certain phage types are currently specific to particular hosts, we have found evidence of extensive gene sharing between our isolates using comparative genomics, suggesting a phage gene pool shaped by recombination and modular exchange. Consequently, we have begun exploring the use of targeted knock-in and knockout studies in R. capsulatus to study the effect of individual genes on a phage’s fitness as well as identify potential genes that are involved in phage susceptibility. However, a major limitation has been the lack of a standardized system for introducing foreign DNA into these hosts. In this study, we report the design, construction, and validation of pExTraRc – a plasmid that can be used to perform knock-in studies in R. capsulatus. Our work would enable further studies looking at the effect of individual phage genes, provide insight into the dynamics of phage-host interactions within Rhodobacteraceae, and expand our understanding of mechanisms involved in a phage’s adaptation to novel hosts.