Expanding the Diversity of Mycobacteriophages: Insights into Genome Architecture and Evolution
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Author/Creator ORCID
Date
2011-01-27
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Citation of Original Publication
Pope WH, Jacobs-Sera D, Russell DA, Peebles CL, Al-Atrache Z, et al. (2011) Expanding the Diversity of Mycobacteriophages: Insights into Genome Architecture and Evolution. PLoS ONE 6(1): e16329. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0016329
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Attribution 3.0 United States (CC BY 3.0 US)
Attribution 3.0 United States (CC BY 3.0 US)
Abstract
Mycobacteriophages are viruses that infect mycobacterial hosts such as Mycobacterium smegmatis and Mycobacterium
tuberculosis. All mycobacteriophages characterized to date are dsDNA tailed phages, and have either siphoviral or myoviral
morphotypes. However, their genetic diversity is considerable, and although sixty-two genomes have been sequenced and
comparatively analyzed, these likely represent only a small portion of the diversity of the mycobacteriophage population at
large. Here we report the isolation, sequencing and comparative genomic analysis of 18 new mycobacteriophages isolated
from geographically distinct locations within the United States. Although no clear correlation between location and
genome type can be discerned, these genomes expand our knowledge of mycobacteriophage diversity and enhance our
understanding of the roles of mobile elements in viral evolution. Expansion of the number of mycobacteriophages grouped
within Cluster A provides insights into the basis of immune specificity in these temperate phages, and we also describe a
novel example of apparent immunity theft. The isolation and genomic analysis of bacteriophages by freshman college
students provides an example of an authentic research experience for novice scientists.