The capsid size most likely correlates to the size of the phage genome, so the larger the capsid, the largest the genome. The tail functions as a tube to transfer phage DNA into the host bacteria, but I do not know exactly what the length of the tail corresponds to. Thanks!
Why is the morphology of the phage significant in knowing what cluster it’s in? More specifically, how does it work different from other cluster phages?
The morphology can be important because all phages within a given cluster usually share the same morphology. Phages within the same cluster, usually infect similar species of phage and utilize similar proteins during this process.
Phages belonging in the same cluster have at least 50% similar DNA while phages in the same subcluster are at least 75% similar. Because of this, phage clusters are used to group phages with similar morphologies. Phages in other clusters than our own may be temperate, instead of lytic, or have a morphotype other than Siphoviridae.
Did you expect to find that Ricardo would be a Cluster K phage, why or why not ? Also, if you had to present the most important outcome of your research to a potential funding source to continue research, what would it be ?
The reason why we were able to expect this is because of the initial comparison of the morphology of our phage. In our class, we looked at a lot of Cluster K phages, so when it came time to suggest a cluster, cluster K jumped out at me. The most important outcome of our research is that Ricardo is a cluster K siphoviridae lytic phage that was able to infect and kill M. smeg. bacteria.
How does the capsule size and tail length of a phage effect how that phage functions?
The capsid size most likely correlates to the size of the phage genome, so the larger the capsid, the largest the genome. The tail functions as a tube to transfer phage DNA into the host bacteria, but I do not know exactly what the length of the tail corresponds to. Thanks!
Why is the morphology of the phage significant in knowing what cluster it’s in? More specifically, how does it work different from other cluster phages?
The morphology can be important because all phages within a given cluster usually share the same morphology. Phages within the same cluster, usually infect similar species of phage and utilize similar proteins during this process.
Phages belonging in the same cluster have at least 50% similar DNA while phages in the same subcluster are at least 75% similar. Because of this, phage clusters are used to group phages with similar morphologies. Phages in other clusters than our own may be temperate, instead of lytic, or have a morphotype other than Siphoviridae.
Did you expect to find that Ricardo would be a Cluster K phage, why or why not ? Also, if you had to present the most important outcome of your research to a potential funding source to continue research, what would it be ?
The reason why we were able to expect this is because of the initial comparison of the morphology of our phage. In our class, we looked at a lot of Cluster K phages, so when it came time to suggest a cluster, cluster K jumped out at me. The most important outcome of our research is that Ricardo is a cluster K siphoviridae lytic phage that was able to infect and kill M. smeg. bacteria.