Now that we know that the phage was an A4 cluster, what can be done with that information to further our knowledge and research advancements about phage?
There is already known information about other archived A4 cluster phages such as host range and gene sequence. By comparing our phage to the others in the
A4 cluster we can narrow down testing for our phage.
Determining the subcluster of our phage, we can compare it to other archived phages within the same subcluster to help narrow down our phages host range and its gene sequencing.
The easiest thing to do would just be to redo the PCR experiment. Last time we did not make the positive control, so this time we should make it ourselves to guarantee its success.
We would like to test its host range to see what other potentially pathogenic bacteria it can infect, and if it can infect healthy bacteria within human intestines. This would help us determine the uses of the phage.
We would need to test the specific mycobacterium to be certain, but M. smegmatis is closely related to other bacteria such as M. tuberculosis, so it is likely that Kingjellyfish could infect this bacterium as well.
PCR stands for polymerase chain reaction, and uses primers to copy specific sequences present in DNA. Clusters are important as determining what cluster an unknown phage is in can help give clues to other aspects of the phage such as its host range and genome sequence. PCR is used as many subcluster have DNA sequences specific to that cluster, so if a primer of this sequence is added, DNA will only be replicated will only in the presence of DNA from that cluster.
Why do you think the positive control failed in your PCR in figure 5?
Just by looking at the gel, it seems that no primers were added as there seem to be no primer resign below the band.
Now that we know that the phage was an A4 cluster, what can be done with that information to further our knowledge and research advancements about phage?
There is already known information about other archived A4 cluster phages such as host range and gene sequence. By comparing our phage to the others in the
A4 cluster we can narrow down testing for our phage.
What implications, if any, does the A4 cluster distinction have for your phage and your research?
Determining the subcluster of our phage, we can compare it to other archived phages within the same subcluster to help narrow down our phages host range and its gene sequencing.
What future experimentation would you take to solidify the results of your PCR?
The easiest thing to do would just be to redo the PCR experiment. Last time we did not make the positive control, so this time we should make it ourselves to guarantee its success.
What further experimentation might you take if you wanted to research KingJellyfish in a phage therapy setting?
We would like to test its host range to see what other potentially pathogenic bacteria it can infect, and if it can infect healthy bacteria within human intestines. This would help us determine the uses of the phage.
What other mycobacterium could KingJellyfish work on, do you have any examples?
We would need to test the specific mycobacterium to be certain, but M. smegmatis is closely related to other bacteria such as M. tuberculosis, so it is likely that Kingjellyfish could infect this bacterium as well.
What is PCR and is why is A4 cluster product important?
PCR stands for polymerase chain reaction, and uses primers to copy specific sequences present in DNA. Clusters are important as determining what cluster an unknown phage is in can help give clues to other aspects of the phage such as its host range and genome sequence. PCR is used as many subcluster have DNA sequences specific to that cluster, so if a primer of this sequence is added, DNA will only be replicated will only in the presence of DNA from that cluster.