Phages can be used in many ways to treat bacterial infections, they can even treat acne. Phage therapy more specifically is the use of bacteriophages for the treatment of pathogenic bacterial infections. Lytic phages are only used for this. My lab partner and I’s phage will be added to the database of phages to help further knowledge about bacteriophages, as there is a lot more to learn about them, but will most likely not be used for phage therapy as it is a temperate phage.
Really good job! Similar to what Morgan asked, since you classified your phage as belonging to the Siphoviridae family, what would be the implications of this? Would this affect what types of bacteria it would be able to kill?
Thank you! The siphoviridae phage characteristics are a nonenveloped head with a long non-contracting tail. The noncontracting tail allows for the DNA to move from the phage capsid(head) to the host cell, prior to infecting the cell. Since phage are unique and specific to their bacteria, I do not believe this determines what bacteria they are able to target. The phage determines which bacteria to target through it’s receptors. The siphoviridae morphotype just helps us better understand the phage and confirm the cluster.
The A5 phage means that the phage belongs to the A cluster of phages. As phages all belong to different clusters, “A” cluster being one of the most common. A5 specifically is the subcluster.
curesymposium.org 
What are characteristics of the Siphoviridae family?
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Characteristics of the siphoviridae family include having a long non-contracting tail with an icosahedral head.
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Interesting research! Based on your results, do you know of any potential therapeutic benefits of the phage you identified?
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Phages can be used in many ways to treat bacterial infections, they can even treat acne. Phage therapy more specifically is the use of bacteriophages for the treatment of pathogenic bacterial infections. Lytic phages are only used for this. My lab partner and I’s phage will be added to the database of phages to help further knowledge about bacteriophages, as there is a lot more to learn about them, but will most likely not be used for phage therapy as it is a temperate phage.
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Really good job! Similar to what Morgan asked, since you classified your phage as belonging to the Siphoviridae family, what would be the implications of this? Would this affect what types of bacteria it would be able to kill?
LikeLike
Thank you! The siphoviridae phage characteristics are a nonenveloped head with a long non-contracting tail. The noncontracting tail allows for the DNA to move from the phage capsid(head) to the host cell, prior to infecting the cell. Since phage are unique and specific to their bacteria, I do not believe this determines what bacteria they are able to target. The phage determines which bacteria to target through it’s receptors. The siphoviridae morphotype just helps us better understand the phage and confirm the cluster.
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What’s the A5 phage?
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The A5 phage means that the phage belongs to the A cluster of phages. As phages all belong to different clusters, “A” cluster being one of the most common. A5 specifically is the subcluster.
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