How does the binding specificity mentioned in future directions determine effectiveness/overall evaluation of Hey Granola, and how would a high versus low binding specificity effect the phage’s interaction with a cell?
Binding specificity refers to the ability of a phage to specifically recognize and bind to a target cell. A high binding specificity would increase the efficacy of Hey Granola in targeting its intended bacterial species, while a low binding specificity would reduce its specificity and increase the risk of off-target effects. Therefore, the binding specificity of Hey Granola is an important factor to consider when evaluating its overall effectiveness for phage therapy.
The only unexpected result that we encountered was when performing serial dilutions. We noticed that regardless of how many rounds of dilutions were done, the plaque assays produced this not reflect that. Luckily we noticed that this was due to contamination of the phage buffer that had been used and not true error
Lytic phages are preferred over lysogenic phages for phage therapy because they immediately kill the bacteria they infect. lysogenic phages, on the other hadn can remain dormant in the host cell for long periods before causing cell lysis. This delayed response may allow the bacterial infection to persist and increase the chance of the emergence of phage-resistant bacteria.
Mycobacterium smegmatis is commonly used as a model organism for studying mycobacterial genetics and physiology because it shares many characteristics with the pathogenic Mycobacterium tuberculosis but is safer to handle in the laboratory. Additionally, M. smegmatis is a fast-growing bacterium that is easy to culture and manipulate, which makes it a convenient choice for many experimental procedures.
The head size determines the size and shape of the phage genome that can be packaged inside, while the tail size determines the type of receptor it can bind to on the host cell surface. This, in turn, affects the host range and infectivity of the phage. Additionally, the tail morphology can impact the ability of the phage to penetrate through biofilms or to evade the host’s immune system.
How does the binding specificity mentioned in future directions determine effectiveness/overall evaluation of Hey Granola, and how would a high versus low binding specificity effect the phage’s interaction with a cell?
Binding specificity refers to the ability of a phage to specifically recognize and bind to a target cell. A high binding specificity would increase the efficacy of Hey Granola in targeting its intended bacterial species, while a low binding specificity would reduce its specificity and increase the risk of off-target effects. Therefore, the binding specificity of Hey Granola is an important factor to consider when evaluating its overall effectiveness for phage therapy.
Great presentation! I was wondering if you saw any unexpected results and if so how it would affect your future directions.
The only unexpected result that we encountered was when performing serial dilutions. We noticed that regardless of how many rounds of dilutions were done, the plaque assays produced this not reflect that. Luckily we noticed that this was due to contamination of the phage buffer that had been used and not true error
Is there a difference in the effectiveness between lytic bacteriophages and temperate bacteriophages?
Lytic phages are preferred over lysogenic phages for phage therapy because they immediately kill the bacteria they infect. lysogenic phages, on the other hadn can remain dormant in the host cell for long periods before causing cell lysis. This delayed response may allow the bacterial infection to persist and increase the chance of the emergence of phage-resistant bacteria.
Why did you choose mycobacterium smegmatis as your bacterial target?
Mycobacterium smegmatis is commonly used as a model organism for studying mycobacterial genetics and physiology because it shares many characteristics with the pathogenic Mycobacterium tuberculosis but is safer to handle in the laboratory. Additionally, M. smegmatis is a fast-growing bacterium that is easy to culture and manipulate, which makes it a convenient choice for many experimental procedures.
Does the head size/ tail size impact the abilities/biological characteristics of the phage?
The head size determines the size and shape of the phage genome that can be packaged inside, while the tail size determines the type of receptor it can bind to on the host cell surface. This, in turn, affects the host range and infectivity of the phage. Additionally, the tail morphology can impact the ability of the phage to penetrate through biofilms or to evade the host’s immune system.