Degree Name

Department

Microbiology and Molecular Biology

College

Life Sciences

Defense Date

2019-03-08

Publication Date

2019-03-19

First Faculty Advisor

Julianne Grose

Second Faculty Advisor

Richard Robison

Honors Coordinator

Paul Evans

Keywords

bacteriophage, phage, enterobacteriaceae, cluster, subcluster

Abstract

Despite the eclectic nature of bacteriophage genomes, nucleotide comparison is an effective method for grouping phages into cluster and subcluster classifications. This process is facilitated by making preliminary cluster assignations based on the identity of the major capsid protein. As more phages continue to be sequenced and integrated into cluster/subcluster groupings, adjustments may need to be made to the genomic similarity percentages that have previously defined cluster/subcluster classifications. Implementing proteomic comparison in addition to nucleotide homology may provide added clarity to this process. Protein conservation and diversity among lytic phages that infect the bacterial family Enterobacteriaceae is discussed and the idea of identifying hallmark proteins for future cluster/subcluster identification is set forth.