Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 2, 2025

Isolation and Genome Analysis of Single Virions using 'Single Virus Genomics'
08:31

Isolation and Genome Analysis of Single Virions using 'Single Virus Genomics'

Published on: May 26, 2013

11.3K

Complete Genome Sequence of Rahel, a C1 Cluster Mycobacteriophage

Fernando E Nieto-Fernandez1, Christos Noutsos2, Jillian Nissen2

  • 1Department of Biological Sciences, SUNY Old Westbury, Old Westbury, New York, USA nietof@oldwestbury.edu.

Microbiology Resource Announcements
|November 6, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Researchers characterized Rahel, a lytic Myoviridae bacteriophage infecting Mycobacterium smegmatis. This study details its genome, revealing 270 genes and providing insights into phage-host interactions.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Virology
  • Genomics

Background:

  • Mycobacterium smegmatis is a model organism for studying mycobacteria.
  • Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria and play roles in microbial ecosystems.
  • Understanding bacteriophage genomes is crucial for their application in therapy and research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize the lytic bacteriophage Rahel.
  • To analyze the genomic features of Rahel, a Myoviridae phage.
  • To investigate the genetic makeup of a phage infecting Mycobacterium smegmatis.

Main Methods:

  • Genome sequencing and assembly of the Rahel bacteriophage.
  • Bioinformatic analysis to identify genes and genomic features.
  • Comparative genomics to understand phage-host relationships.

Main Results:

  • Rahel is a large bacteriophage (1,555,955 bp) with 64.7% G+C content.
  • The genome is circularly permuted and contains 270 genes, including 33 tRNAs and 1 tmRNA.
  • Only five genes were identified on the reverse strand, indicating specific genomic organization.

Conclusions:

  • The genomic characterization of Rahel provides a foundation for further functional studies.
  • Rahel represents a significant addition to the known bacteriophages of Mycobacterium smegmatis.
  • Insights into Rahel's genome can inform the development of phage-based strategies for controlling mycobacterial infections.

More Related Videos

Phage Phenomics: Physiological Approaches to Characterize Novel Viral Proteins09:40

Phage Phenomics: Physiological Approaches to Characterize Novel Viral Proteins

Published on: June 11, 2015

12.6K
Identification of Virulence Markers of Mycobacterium abscessus for Intracellular Replication in Phagocytes08:34

Identification of Virulence Markers of Mycobacterium abscessus for Intracellular Replication in Phagocytes

Published on: September 27, 2018

8.9K

Related Concept Videos

DNA Bacteriophages01:26

DNA Bacteriophages

Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that specifically infect bacteria, utilizing their genetic material to hijack host cellular machinery for replication. DNA bacteriophages employ single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) or double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) genomes. These phages exhibit diverse replication strategies and host interactions, influencing their ecological roles and applications in biotechnology and medicine.ssDNA BacteriophagesssDNA phages, with their small genomes, utilize unique strategies to...
491
Lysogenic Cycle of Bacteriophages00:43

Lysogenic Cycle of Bacteriophages

In contrast to the lytic cycle, phages infecting bacteria via the lysogenic cycle do not immediately kill their host cell. Instead, they combine their genome with the host genome, allowing the bacteria to replicate the phage DNA along with the bacterial genome. The incorporated copy of the phage genome is called the prophage. Some prophages can re-activate and enter the lytic cycle. This often occurs in response to a perturbation, such as DNA damage, but can also transpire in the absence of...
66.2K
Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages01:30

Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages

Bacteriophages, also known as phages, are specialized viruses that infect bacteria. A key characteristic of phages is their distinctive “head-tail” morphology. A phage begins the infection process (i.e., lytic cycle) by attaching to the outside of a bacterial cell. Attachment is accomplished via proteins in the phage tail that bind to specific receptor proteins on the outer surface of the bacterium. The tail injects the phage’s DNA genome into the bacterial cytoplasm. In the...
75.8K