Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2026
09:40
Phage Phenomics: Physiological Approaches to Characterize Novel Viral Proteins
Published on: June 11, 2015
Genome characterization of cluster EE microbacteriophage Trackstar
Jake Medina1, Fidel Calderon Iglesias1, Emmanuel Mirabal1
1Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA.
Microbiology Resource Announcements
|July 22, 2026
Summary
Trackstar, a novel bacteriophage, was isolated from Microbacterium foliorum in Florida. Its genome analysis revealed specific characteristics, aiding its classification within the EE cluster.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Virology
- Genomics
Background:
- Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria.
- Understanding phage diversity is crucial for microbial ecology and biotechnology.
- Microbacterium foliorum is a bacterial species found in various environments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and characterize a novel bacteriophage, Trackstar.
- To determine the genomic features and morphology of Trackstar.
- To classify Trackstar based on its genetic makeup.
Main Methods:
- Isolation of Trackstar from a soil sample in Miami, Florida.
- Genome sequencing and analysis to determine size, gene content, and GC content.
- Morphological characterization using electron microscopy (implied by siphoviral morphology).
- Phylogenetic analysis based on gene content similarity.
Main Results:
- Trackstar was successfully isolated and identified.
- The Trackstar genome is 17,033 bp with 24 predicted protein-coding genes.
- It exhibits a siphoviral morphology.
- Genomic analysis assigned Trackstar to cluster EE.
Conclusions:
- Trackstar represents a newly characterized bacteriophage.
- Its genomic and morphological features provide insights into phage diversity.
- Classification within cluster EE aids in understanding its evolutionary relationships.
Keywords:
bacteriophage genetics
Related Concept Videos
01:26DNA 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...
01:29Modern Molecular Taxonomy
Advancements in molecular biology have revolutionized the identification and characterization of bacteria, with multiple methods leveraging DNA sequencing for enhanced precision. As sequencing technologies improve and costs decline, these approaches are increasingly used in clinical, environmental, and evolutionary studies.Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST) examines several housekeeping genes, essential chromosomal genes encoding cellular functions, to distinguish strains. Approximately...
01:08Evolution of Microbial Genome
Microbial genome evolution is a highly dynamic process shaped by continual gene gain and loss across species and strains. This genomic flexibility allows microorganisms to adapt rapidly to environmental pressures and interactions with other organisms. Central to understanding this diversity is the distinction between the core and pan genomes.The core genome comprises the genes shared by all sampled strains of a species, representing essential functions needed for fundamental cellular processes.
01:23Bacteriophages of the Human Virome
Bacteriophages are found throughout the human body. They may even outnumber eukaryotic viruses, forming an important and dynamic component of the human virome. Indeed, phages represent the most abundant viral entities, with densities in the gut reaching up to 10⁹ particles per gram of fecal matter, and many belonging to orders such as Caudovirales and Microviridae, while a substantial proportion remains unclassified as viral “dark matter.”Lysogeny and Genetic ExchangeIn the gut, bacteriophages...