During the COVID-19 pandemic, a smaller than usual Miami University Microbiology 223/224 class of 2020-2021 set out to culture, characterize, and annotate genomes of bacteriophages from Ohio and Pennsylvania soil and leaf samples capable of infecting the soil bacterium Microbacterium foliorum strain NRRL B-24224. In the fall semester of 2020, six lytic bacteriophages were isolated through the combined efforts of eight students, three graduate assistants, and two professors. Two of the six phages, named Josuke and Leafy, were sent to Pittsburgh Bacteriophage Institute for genetic sequencing. Both phages were identified as actinobacteriophages under the cluster EE, known for its relatively small genome. In the spring semester of 2021, the class, which had grown to 11 students, opted to trade Josuke for the more complex phage Zizzle. Unlike Leafy, Zizzle uses the host Mycobacterium smegmatis strain mc2 155, was isolated in Pennsylvania, and has a genome nearly three times longer. Moreover, this phage was determined to be of subcluster F1. During the spring semester, the short genome of Leafy was used to practice annotation skills. After this, the class focused their efforts on identifying the gene locations and functions of Zizzle.
Authors: Ethan F. Boley, Olivia D. Castor, Elizabeth A. Childers, Lauren A. Downs, Sarah G. Johnson, Eckhardt A. Karsten, Kayla M. Lennartz, Benjamin F. Nagle, Alivia R O’Donnell, Madison E. Shaw, Natalie E. Young, Maria L. Spaeth, Elizabeth L. Zenni, Bradley M. Krzysiak, Nathan R. Schwab, Parnell J. Sheldon, Luis A. Actis, Mitchell F. Balish, Rachael M. Morgan-Kiss
Faculty Advisors: Luis Actis; Mitchell Balish; Rachael Morgan-Kiss, Microbiology
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