Project Title:  “Characterization of mechanisms of adaptive phage-host co-evolution using next generation sequencing and phenotypic profiling” GRDF; Project duration:  01.08.2013 – 31.08.2015.  

  Project summary

 a).Projectgoal: The mail goal of the project is identification of potential mechanisms in the adaptive co-evolution of phage-host systems of a set of phenotypically distinct bacteriophages and their host bacterial strains. 

b). Project implementation  

Task 1 – Phage growth in different hosts;

Task 2 – selection of adaptive phages;

Task 3 – DNA extraction of adaptive phages;

Task 4 – Whole Genome Sequence of DNA using Illumina MiSeq platform;

Task 5 – Genetic analysis of whole genome sequence data;

c). Expected results:  This project will produce whole phage genomes, draft bacterial genomes (B. melitensis and B. anthracis) and a set of candidate genetic loci representing the genetic basis for identified selective phenotypic properties representing adaptive traits. The sequence results will explain mechanisms of host range specificity of phages, bacterial protection mechanisms against viruses as well as genetic basis for phenotypic features of phages and their hosts.