Hi Lauryn! The integrase gene encodes for the integrase protein which is a protein that integrates (hence the name) the viral genome into the bacterial genome. When the viral genome is integrated into the bacterial genome it replicates itself along with the host chromosome. When a viral genome is integrated into the bacterial genome it is considered to be in the lysogenic life cycle. The repressor gene encodes for the repressor protein which is a protein that represses or prevents lytic gene expression by physically blocking the transcription of lytic genes.
Beautifully explained! How you described the reasons and outcomes of all assays was very nice. My only question is, what do the clusters mean? What does being an N cluster phage mean?
Thank you Kendall! A cluster is a way to characterize the many different types of phages and it depends on the phage genome. Clusters of phages have 50% genetic similarity and subclusters have 70% genomic similarity. That is an N cluster phage is a phage that has at least 50% genetic similarity to other N cluster phages. There are many clusters and subclusters, and some phages are “singletons” because their genomes are not similar to any previously identified phages.
Hi! Are lytic or lysogenic phages better candidates for phage therapy? Also, do you happen to know what type of conditions would cause a temperate phage that has integrated its DNA into the host cell to lyse the cell vs stay put?
Hi Ryan! Lytic phages are much better candidates for phage therapy because they can enter the lytic cycle (where they are lysing the bacteria) with almost 100% efficiency. That means that they have a much higher rate of killing harmful bacteria than temperate phages do. There are a number of environmental conditions that would trigger a phage in the lysogenic cycle to enter lytic cycle. Some conditions include exposure to UV light, low nutrient conditions and also heat.
curesymposium.org 
Great presentation! I would love to know more about integrase and repressor genes and how exactly those prevent a fully lytic lifecycle.
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Hi Lauryn! The integrase gene encodes for the integrase protein which is a protein that integrates (hence the name) the viral genome into the bacterial genome. When the viral genome is integrated into the bacterial genome it replicates itself along with the host chromosome. When a viral genome is integrated into the bacterial genome it is considered to be in the lysogenic life cycle. The repressor gene encodes for the repressor protein which is a protein that represses or prevents lytic gene expression by physically blocking the transcription of lytic genes.
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Beautifully explained! How you described the reasons and outcomes of all assays was very nice. My only question is, what do the clusters mean? What does being an N cluster phage mean?
LikeLike
Thank you Kendall! A cluster is a way to characterize the many different types of phages and it depends on the phage genome. Clusters of phages have 50% genetic similarity and subclusters have 70% genomic similarity. That is an N cluster phage is a phage that has at least 50% genetic similarity to other N cluster phages. There are many clusters and subclusters, and some phages are “singletons” because their genomes are not similar to any previously identified phages.
LikeLike
Hi! Are lytic or lysogenic phages better candidates for phage therapy? Also, do you happen to know what type of conditions would cause a temperate phage that has integrated its DNA into the host cell to lyse the cell vs stay put?
LikeLike
Hi Ryan! Lytic phages are much better candidates for phage therapy because they can enter the lytic cycle (where they are lysing the bacteria) with almost 100% efficiency. That means that they have a much higher rate of killing harmful bacteria than temperate phages do. There are a number of environmental conditions that would trigger a phage in the lysogenic cycle to enter lytic cycle. Some conditions include exposure to UV light, low nutrient conditions and also heat.
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