Comparative genomics of Cluster O mycobacteriophages
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 16, 2026

Phage Phenomics: Physiological Approaches to Characterize Novel Viral Proteins
Published on: June 11, 2015
Steven G Cresawn1, Welkin H Pope2, Deborah Jacobs-Sera2
1Department of Biology, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Virginia, United States of America.
Abstract:
Mycobacteriophages--viruses of mycobacterial hosts--are genetically diverse but morphologically are all classified in the Caudovirales with double-stranded DNA and tails. We describe here a group of five closely related mycobacteriophages--Corndog, Catdawg, Dylan, Firecracker, and YungJamal--designated as Cluster O with long flexible tails but with unusual prolate capsids. Proteomic analysis of phage Corndog particles, Catdawg particles, and Corndog-infected cells confirms expression of half of the predicted gene products and indicates a non-canonical mechanism for translation of the Corndog tape measure protein. Bioinformatic analysis identifies 8-9 strongly predicted SigA promoters and all five Cluster O genomes contain more than 30 copies of a 17 bp repeat sequence with dyad symmetry located throughout the genomes. Comparison of the Cluster O phages provides insights into phage genome evolution including the processes of gene flux by horizontal genetic exchange.
Related Concept Videos
DNA Bacteriophages
Comparing Mitochondrial, Chloroplast, and Prokaryotic Genomes
Lysogenic Cycle of Bacteriophages
Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages
Modern Molecular Taxonomy
Evolutionary Relationships through Genome Comparisons

