Celebration of Scholars
From Soil to Sequence: the Story of SpikeBT
Name:
Wendy Cruz
Major: Biology
Hometown: Racine, WI
Faculty Sponsor: Deborah Tobiason
Other Sponsors:
Type of research: Course project
Funding: HHMI SEA-Phages
Name:
Tabitha Hudock
Major: Biology
Hometown: Kenosha, WI
Faculty Sponsor: Deborah Tobiason
Other Sponsors:
Type of research: Course project
Funding: HHMI SEA-Phages
Name:
Amy Sorge
Major: Biology
Hometown: Seaside Park, NJ
Faculty Sponsor: Deborah Tobiason
Other Sponsors:
Type of research: Course project
Funding: HHMI SEA-Phages
Name:
Elizabeth Stroh
Major: Psychology
Hometown: Normal, IL
Faculty Sponsor: Deborah Tobiason
Other Sponsors:
Type of research: Course project
Funding: HHMI SEA-Phages
Abstract
Bacteriophage, or phage, are viruses that infect bacteria. One of their most fascinating qualities is their unmatched, incredible genetic diversity. In experiments during the fall of 2016, a phage dubbed SpikeBT, specific to the bacterial host Mycobacterium smegmatis, was isolated from a soil sample. That year, an additional 40 Mycobacterium phages were discovered by Carthage students! In order to extract phage from the soil sample, enriched isolation was used. Through dilutions and plating, SpikeBT's specific large plaques were used to isolate and purify the single phage. SpikeBT then had its genome sequenced and was determined to be a Subcluster A1 phage with a temperate lifestyle and a siphoviridae morphology. We then began the process of annotating this genome, as it compares to other genomes in the database, to gather information about each of the phage’s genes. Then, using the information gathered, attempts were made to determine their functions.
Submit date: March 23, 2018, 2:46 p.m.