Prophages, especially those produced by N-cluster mycobacteriophages, encode genes that confer extremely specific repressor proteins that affect a single family of bacteriophages or even fewer. It is not so much unique mechanisms as much as a uniquely small range of defence. As an example, from Dedrick et al. 2017; the lysogens of three N cluster mycobacteriophages, Xeno, SkinnyPete, and Charlie, all present targeted defence against the single phage Che9c.
Unfortunately, N-cluster bacteriophages and other lysogenic phages can not be used in the medical field unless the genes encoding for integrase and repressor proteins are removed. If that were the case, BDragon could definitely be used in a medical setting, but would likely lag behind the competition with other strains.
Ah, sorry about the confusion. I meant that as a continuation into BDragon’s ineligibility for medical use, but it does have the potential to be entirely lytic. Other lysogenic bacteriophages have been successfully altered such that the genes encoding for integrase and repressor proteins are either removed or otherwise changed to prevent integration of the prophage and formation of the lysogen.
Honestly? I’m perfectly happy to stay in research applications and to let those that have an interest in medicine to take the findings that final step. I personally am not interested in that side of microbiology, but do hope that information I gather will positively influence the medical field.
curesymposium.org 
What kind of unique mechanisms do pro-phages have for defending against other bacteriophages?
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Prophages, especially those produced by N-cluster mycobacteriophages, encode genes that confer extremely specific repressor proteins that affect a single family of bacteriophages or even fewer. It is not so much unique mechanisms as much as a uniquely small range of defence. As an example, from Dedrick et al. 2017; the lysogens of three N cluster mycobacteriophages, Xeno, SkinnyPete, and Charlie, all present targeted defence against the single phage Che9c.
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What kind of unique defense mechanisms do pro-phages have over other bacteriophages?
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Really good job on this presentation! What kinds of experimental results would lead you to take the bdragon research further/into the medical field?
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Unfortunately, N-cluster bacteriophages and other lysogenic phages can not be used in the medical field unless the genes encoding for integrase and repressor proteins are removed. If that were the case, BDragon could definitely be used in a medical setting, but would likely lag behind the competition with other strains.
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You said “At the present moment, BDragon is a lysogenic mycobacteriophage”. Do you anticipate a potential for it to become purely lytic?
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Ah, sorry about the confusion. I meant that as a continuation into BDragon’s ineligibility for medical use, but it does have the potential to be entirely lytic. Other lysogenic bacteriophages have been successfully altered such that the genes encoding for integrase and repressor proteins are either removed or otherwise changed to prevent integration of the prophage and formation of the lysogen.
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In the future would you ever like to research something that would be useful in the medical field?
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Honestly? I’m perfectly happy to stay in research applications and to let those that have an interest in medicine to take the findings that final step. I personally am not interested in that side of microbiology, but do hope that information I gather will positively influence the medical field.
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