A “cluster” is basically a grouping system to categorize similar phages together. For example, if you have a patient with a bacterial infection that you aren’t sure how to treat, you can examine similar bacterial infections that you know for sure are infected by a certain type of phage. You can then test phages from that same cluster on the bacterial infection since you know they are more likely to yield similar results. Also sorry for the audio by the way. I’m not quite sure what happened there.
Amazing poster and work, such a cool thing. When you say that the “Moon” phage has the potential to be employed in therapy due to its phenotypic similarities to tuberculosis what would that entail? Could it be a method of treatment that does not require long harmful antibiotic courses, and if so in what way would transfection of a bacteriophage support out immune system?
So the bacteria strain tested, which was M. smegmatis, has phenotypic similarities to bacterial strains that cause tuberculosis. What this entails is since our Moon phage was able to successfully infect M. smegmatis, it could possibly infect M. tuberculosis as well. In regards to your other question, phage is being explored more now that research has shown that phage viruses only infect bacteria (not harming people, though this field is relatively unexplored so who knows?). Bacteria tend to become antibiotic resistant overtime so phage may be a more viable treatment option in the future, but again, not much is known about its long term effects on the human body.
Basically phage cluster allows us to know which other bacteriophages are similar to ours (aka can possibly infect the same bacteria). Clusters are important because if you need to treat a bacterial infection you can combine together phages from the same cluster and that has a greater chance of the combating the illness. 🙂 Sorry for the junk audio by the way.
When you say that it is phenotypically similar to tuberculosis I imagine that would then be a target for the therapy? In what manner does using a phage treatment work, is it a replacement for antibiotics or an additive treatment that might decrease the dosage for the current treatment and thus lower the toxicities of things like isoniazid?
Replying again so it doesn’t look like I ignored a question on here haha. So the bacteria strain tested, which was M. smegmatis, has phenotypic similarities to bacterial strains that cause tuberculosis. What this entails is since our Moon phage was able to successfully infect M. smegmatis, it could possibly infect M. tuberculosis as well. In regards to your other question, phage is being explored more now that research has shown that phage viruses only infect bacteria (not harming people, though this field is relatively unexplored so who knows?). Bacteria tend to become antibiotic resistant overtime so phage may be a more viable treatment option in the future, but again, not much is known about its long term effects on the human body.
Why does what cluster group its in determine if it can be used medically or not?
A “cluster” is basically a grouping system to categorize similar phages together. For example, if you have a patient with a bacterial infection that you aren’t sure how to treat, you can examine similar bacterial infections that you know for sure are infected by a certain type of phage. You can then test phages from that same cluster on the bacterial infection since you know they are more likely to yield similar results. Also sorry for the audio by the way. I’m not quite sure what happened there.
What was the purpose of carrying out a restriction digest of your phage?
A restriction digest allows us to figure out the cluster of our phage (basically determine what other phages are phenotypically similar to ours). 🙂
Amazing poster and work, such a cool thing. When you say that the “Moon” phage has the potential to be employed in therapy due to its phenotypic similarities to tuberculosis what would that entail? Could it be a method of treatment that does not require long harmful antibiotic courses, and if so in what way would transfection of a bacteriophage support out immune system?
So the bacteria strain tested, which was M. smegmatis, has phenotypic similarities to bacterial strains that cause tuberculosis. What this entails is since our Moon phage was able to successfully infect M. smegmatis, it could possibly infect M. tuberculosis as well. In regards to your other question, phage is being explored more now that research has shown that phage viruses only infect bacteria (not harming people, though this field is relatively unexplored so who knows?). Bacteria tend to become antibiotic resistant overtime so phage may be a more viable treatment option in the future, but again, not much is known about its long term effects on the human body.
What information does the cluster of the phage provide, and why is it important?
Basically phage cluster allows us to know which other bacteriophages are similar to ours (aka can possibly infect the same bacteria). Clusters are important because if you need to treat a bacterial infection you can combine together phages from the same cluster and that has a greater chance of the combating the illness. 🙂 Sorry for the junk audio by the way.
When you say that it is phenotypically similar to tuberculosis I imagine that would then be a target for the therapy? In what manner does using a phage treatment work, is it a replacement for antibiotics or an additive treatment that might decrease the dosage for the current treatment and thus lower the toxicities of things like isoniazid?
Sorry I couldn’t see my first one so I panic added one that seemed similar, ignore me!
Honestly same.
Replying again so it doesn’t look like I ignored a question on here haha. So the bacteria strain tested, which was M. smegmatis, has phenotypic similarities to bacterial strains that cause tuberculosis. What this entails is since our Moon phage was able to successfully infect M. smegmatis, it could possibly infect M. tuberculosis as well. In regards to your other question, phage is being explored more now that research has shown that phage viruses only infect bacteria (not harming people, though this field is relatively unexplored so who knows?). Bacteria tend to become antibiotic resistant overtime so phage may be a more viable treatment option in the future, but again, not much is known about its long term effects on the human body.