Life Sciences Seminar: Unlocking the genetic repertoire of a cultivated megaphage

Life Sciences Seminar
Unlocking the genetic repertoire of a cultivated megaphage

Dr. Richard Allen White III
Assistant Professor of Bioinformatics and Genomics
University of North Carolina – Charlotte

Abstract:
Phage G is the largest known bacteriophage (i.e., bacterial virus - phage) on Earth that we have been able to cultivate. While other phages have been found via metagenomics to be larger than phage G none have ever been cultivated within the lab. Phage G is one of the largest phage particles >1 um which is half the size of an E. coli and the largest sequenced genome for a cultivated phage at 499 kbp. Phage G has over 650 protein-coding genes, with roughly half being hypothetical proteins, the rest being structural in nature (e.g., capsid, tail, portal, terminase). Phage G does have an axillary metabolic gene known as a phoH which in E. coli is a phosphate starvation-inducible gene. It is commonly found amongst other tailed phages and has been functionally characterized in bacteria as a 39 Kda ATP-binding protein induced under phosphate starvation. Its closest known relative in nature was found in the gut of moose but has always been thought to originate from soil. G phage reminds one of the greatest mysteries and stories in all of phage biology with its genome finally unlocked.

Speaker Bio:
Dr. White III, is a computational and synthetic virologist. His research and lab (e.g., RAW lab) focuses on the virosphere relating to metabolism, host-viral interactions, bacterial-viral interactions, and viral-viral interactions in relation to viral lifestyle and its impact on global biogeochemical cycling. He uses computational viroinfomatics, metaomics, and synthetic biology to unlock the potential of the virosphere including phage therapy, novel viral therapeutics and new materials (e.g., virocement).

Intended Audience:
Beginners, undergraduates, graduates, experts. Those with interest in the topic.

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