T4 Bacteriophage
Classification
Domain; Phylum; Class; Order; family [Others may be used. Use NCBI link to find]
Species
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NCBI: [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?mode=Info&id=1007084&lvl= 3&lin=f&keep=1&srchmode=1&unlock] |
Genus species
Genome Structure
Describe the size and content of the genome. How many chromosomes? Circular or linear? Other interesting features? What is known about its sequence?
Cell Structure, Metabolism and Life Cycle
Interesting features of cell structure; how it gains energy; what important molecules it produces.
The T4 bacteriophage has the classic appearance that most people think of when they hear the term bacteriophage. If you were going to observe a T4 bacteriophage, you would notice two main parts of the virus' body; the head, and the tail. The head is comprised of an icosahedral (20 sided) capsid, that contains T4's _______ stranded _NA, and is the proximal part of the virus. The whole tail region has a few more parts, and is located distally to the icosahedral capsid. The proximal end of the tail is where the collar can be observed, and the distal end of the tail is where the baseplate can be observed. Extending laterally from the baseplate are six tail fibers that can be easily mistaken for legs. Despite being a virus, these tail fibers give T4 a very live appearance. Beneath the baseplate there is a spike that the bacteriophage uses to inject its genome into the host for replication.
The T4 bacteriophage is still quite smaller than its host, Escherichia coli. While Escherichia coli is a couple of micrometers, T4 is an entire order of magnitude smaller. The T4 bacteriophage is roughly ______ nM (nanometers) tall. In addition to being smaller than the host, T4 is also much more abundant than its host, outnumber E. coli nearly _____ to one.
Ecology and Pathogenesis
Habitat; symbiosis; biogeochemical significance; contributions to environment.
If relevant, how does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Virulence
factors, as well as patient symptoms.
References
[Sample reference] [http://ijs.sgmjournals.org/cgi/reprint/50/2/489 Takai, K., Sugai, A., Itoh, T., and Horikoshi, K. "Palaeococcus ferrophilus gen. nov., sp. nov., a barophilic, hyperthermophilic archaeon from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent chimney". International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. 2000. Volume 50. p. 489-500.]
Author
Page authored by Jake Delaney, student of Prof. Bradley Tolar at UNC Wilmington.
[[Category:Pages edited by students of Bradley Tolar at UNC Wilmington]]
