18 February 2019 ✷ NapoleonB DNA Annotation Corrections + Abstracts

Procedure

• DNA master was opened and NapoleonB was auto-annotated
• PhageNotes was opened and each aspect of the DNA annotations for gene 23 was rechecked for the start codon. It was ultimately decided the start would not be moved because of the RBS scores and agreement with Starterator.
• Abstracts for research performed last semester and this semester were crafted prior to lab and members of the group combined the best parts of each abstract into one strong one
• Cooper’s abstract was used as the foundation for the group’s abstract, but the procedure from Kathryn’s was very strong and was included in the final draft. My introduction and final numerical values were included from my abstract, and Nathan’s procedure was also included.

Results

final annotation for gene 23:

The group’s abstract:

            ” Bacteriophages are a diverse, vast part of our biosphere that still have relatively little known about them. The 2018-2019 Baylor University SEA-PHAGES Cohort worked to isolate a collection of Arthrobacter phages and then annotated the genome of Arthrobacter phage NapoleonB. This study was conducted in order to discover and sequence a new bacteriophage. By collecting, purifying, and isolating the phage in a high-titer lysate, the fully sequenced genome of the phage was able to be annotated and analyzed. As a result of the annotations, completed on DNA Master, the annotations of NapoleonB showed 71 genes without a known function and 26 with a confirmed function. Among these 26, 7 genes suggested functions relating to tail proteins while 1 gene coded for holin, which makes NapoleonB the only phage in the AM cluster to have this gene. The genes that showed a function were supported by NCBI BLASTp, HHPred, and synteny from the Phamerator AM cluster phages and known phams. The unknown genes either showed ambiguous results or no significant results from an NCBI or PhagesDB BLAST, while the called genes showed evidence of basic bacteriophage functional proteins. The results of this sequencing and annotating suggest that while many different species, types, and clusters of bacteriophages have been discovered and analyzed thoroughly, there is much more to be discovered. However, the annotation of NapoleonB provides useful evidence that improves the general understanding of bacteriophages.”

Conclusion

Many of the genes annotated were no known function or tail proteins, so the study of the phage is largely centered around that.

Future plans

The annotation of NapoleonB’s genome will be completed, checked, and submitted to phagesdb. The information gathered from the annotation of the genome will lead to the creation of a research question and thus further research into phage biology involving NapoleonB.