Hi Bria!
Lobi’s effectiveness against other bacteria strains would have to be tested in order for us to know for sure, but you are right that bacteriophages are highly specific. Due to this fact, we can assume that Lobi will likely infect bacteria of similar strains of ancestry to this particular strain of M. smag bacteria.
If you were able to sequence the genome of this phage, which proved to not be promising in treating mycobacteria, could you BLAST against other genomes to weed out similaraly ineffective phages?
Hi Neko! Thanks for the question!
First of all, this phage was effective in infecting bacteria, however its lysogenic life cycle makes it an unlikely candidate for phage therapy. Sequencing the genome of the isolated bacteriophage, Lobi, would definitely be helpful in identifying similar bacteriophages and indicating what other types of bacterium strains it can infect. Identifying similar bacteriophages could also indicate bacteria that Lobi may be ineffective on as well!
Wonderful! Is it known how many other temperate phages are similar to Lobi in their ability to be effective against certain bacteria or are most known effective phages lytic?
Hi Barbara!
Both lytic and temperate phages are effective against bacteria; however, they are very specific and may only infect particular strains. Their degree of effectiveness often depends on concentration as well as lysis rate. Lytic phages are more effective in phage therapy as compared to temperate phages due to the fact that they directly and quickly lyse the cell rather than inserting their DNA into the host genome to replicate. Phages that infect certain bacteria strains can have either lytic or temperate and still be just as effective!
How likely is it that this phage will be effective against other bacterias, since we know that bacteriophages are highly specific?
Hi Bria!
Lobi’s effectiveness against other bacteria strains would have to be tested in order for us to know for sure, but you are right that bacteriophages are highly specific. Due to this fact, we can assume that Lobi will likely infect bacteria of similar strains of ancestry to this particular strain of M. smag bacteria.
If you were able to sequence the genome of this phage, which proved to not be promising in treating mycobacteria, could you BLAST against other genomes to weed out similaraly ineffective phages?
Hi Neko! Thanks for the question!
First of all, this phage was effective in infecting bacteria, however its lysogenic life cycle makes it an unlikely candidate for phage therapy. Sequencing the genome of the isolated bacteriophage, Lobi, would definitely be helpful in identifying similar bacteriophages and indicating what other types of bacterium strains it can infect. Identifying similar bacteriophages could also indicate bacteria that Lobi may be ineffective on as well!
Wonderful! Is it known how many other temperate phages are similar to Lobi in their ability to be effective against certain bacteria or are most known effective phages lytic?
Hi Barbara!
Both lytic and temperate phages are effective against bacteria; however, they are very specific and may only infect particular strains. Their degree of effectiveness often depends on concentration as well as lysis rate. Lytic phages are more effective in phage therapy as compared to temperate phages due to the fact that they directly and quickly lyse the cell rather than inserting their DNA into the host genome to replicate. Phages that infect certain bacteria strains can have either lytic or temperate and still be just as effective!