Complete genome sequences of cluster F1 and cluster B1 phages Karhdo and Basato.

We present the complete genome sequences of phages Karhdo and Basato, isolated in Clark County, Nevada. The phages were isolated and annotated by students enrolled in undergraduate research courses over two semesters at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

and their phages; a community science approach to discovery and initial testing of prophylactic phage cocktails against American Foulbrood in New Zealand.

American foulbrood (AFB) is a devastating disease of the European honey bee () and is found throughout the world. AFB is caused by the bacterium () Treatment with antibiotics is strictly forbidden in many regions, including New Zealand. Safe and natural prophylactic solutions to protect honey bees from AFB are needed.

Complete genome sequences of cluster G1 and cluster K4 phages omnicritical and Barkley26.

We present the complete genome sequence of two Actinobacteriophages, OmniCritical and Barkley26, isolated in Clark County, NV. Over two semesters, The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) students isolated and purified phages and manually annotated the genomes. The courses follow the HHMI Science Education Alliance Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Sciences (SEA-PHAGES) curricula.

Evolution to Increase the Titers of Difficult Bacteriophages: RAMP-UP Protocol.

Background: Bacteriophages are becoming increasingly important in the race to find alternatives to antibiotics. Unfortunately, bacteriophages that might otherwise be useful are sometimes discarded due to low titers making them unsuitable for downstream applications.

Methods: Here, we present two distinct approaches used to experimentally evolve novel New Zealand Paenibacillus larvae bacteriophages.

Conditional gene regulation models demonstrate a pro-proliferative role for growth hormone receptor in prostate cancer.

Background: Humans with inactivating mutations in growth hormone receptor (GHR) have lower rates of cancer, including prostate cancer. Similarly, mice with inactivating Ghr mutations are protected from prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia in the C3(1)/TAg prostate cancer model. However, gaps in clinical relevance in those models persist.

Phage Commander, an Application for Rapid Gene Identification in Bacteriophage Genomes Using Multiple Programs.

The number of sequenced bacteriophage genomes is growing at an exponential rate. The majority of sequenced bacteriophage genomes are annotated by one or more of several freely available gene identification programs (Glimmer, GeneMark, RAST, Prodigal, etc.).

GH Action in Prostate Cancer Cells Promotes Proliferation, Limits Apoptosis, and Regulates Cancer-related Gene Expression.

Previous studies investigating the effects of blocking the growth hormone (GH)/insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) axis in prostate cancer found no effects of the growth hormone receptor (GHR) antagonist, pegvisomant, on the growth of grafted human prostate cancer cells in vivo. However, human GHR is not activated by mouse GH, so direct actions of GH on prostate cancer cells were not evaluated in this context. The present study addresses the species specificity of GH-GHR activity by investigating GH actions in prostate cancer cell lines derived from a mouse Pten-deletion model.

Complete Genome Sequences of Cluster A6 and Cluster G1 Mycobacterium smegmatis Phages Hoot and Jolene.

We present the complete genome sequences of Mycobacterium smegmatis phages Hoot and Jolene, isolated in Las Vegas, NV. The phages were isolated and annotated by students enrolled in an undergraduate research course at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Hoot is a cluster A6 mycobacteriophage, while Jolene is in cluster G1.

Characterization of CRISPR Spacer and Protospacer Sequences in and Its Bacteriophages.

The bacterium is the causative agent of American foulbrood, the most devastating bacterial disease of honeybees. Because is antibiotic resistant, phages that infect it are currently used as alternative treatments. However, the acquisition by of CRISPR spacer sequences from the phages could be an obstacle to treatment efforts.

Diversity and Distribution of a Novel Genus of Hyperthermophilic Viruses Encoding a Proof-Reading Family-A DNA Polymerase.

Despite the high abundance of in many geothermal systems, these bacteria are difficult to culture and no viruses infecting members of this phylum have been isolated. Here, we describe the complete, circular dsDNA Uncultivated Virus Genome (UViG) of Octopus Spring virus (TOSV), derived from metagenomic data, along with eight related UViGs representing three additional viral species. Despite low overall similarity among viruses from different hot springs, the genomes shared a high degree of synteny, and encoded numerous genes for nucleotide metabolism, including a PolA-type DNA polymerase polyprotein with likely accessory functions, a DNA Pol III sliding clamp, a thymidylate kinase, a DNA gyrase, a helicase, and a DNA methylase.

Complete Genome Sequences of Cluster P1 and Cluster C1 Mycobacterium smegmatis Phages Jung and Ronan.

We present the complete genome sequences of phages Jung and Ronan, isolated from soil in Las Vegas, Nevada. The phages were isolated and annotated by students enrolled in a course for undergraduate research experience (CURE). Jung is a cluster P1 mycobacteriophage, while Ronan is in cluster C1.

bacteriophages: obscure past, promising future.

is a Gram-positive, spore-forming bacterium that is the causative agent of American foulbrood (AFB), the most devastating bacterial disease of the honeybee. is antibiotic resistant, complicating treatment efforts. Bacteriophages that target are rapidly emerging as a promising treatment.

Complete Genome Sequences of Mycobacterium smegmatis Phages NihilNomen and Carlyle, Isolated in Las Vegas, Nevada.

We present the complete genomes of the phages Carlyle and NihilNomen, isolated from soil in Las Vegas, Nevada. The phages were isolated and annotated by undergraduate students enrolled in the Phage Discovery course offered by the School of Life Sciences at the University of Nevada Las Vegas.

A Method for Improving the Accuracy and Efficiency of Bacteriophage Genome Annotation.

Bacteriophages are the most numerous entities on Earth. The number of sequenced phage genomes is approximately 8000 and increasing rapidly. Sequencing of a genome is followed by annotation, where genes, start codons, and functions are putatively identified.

Complete Genome Sequences of Mycobacterium smegmatis Phages Chewbacca, Reptar3000, and Riparian, Isolated in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Here, we present the complete genome sequences of Mycobacterium smegmatis phages Chewbacca, Reptar3000, and Riparian, isolated from soil in Las Vegas, NV. The phages were isolated and annotated by undergraduate students enrolled in the Phage Discovery course offered by the School of Life Sciences at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Complete Genome Sequences of 18 Paenibacillus larvae Phages from the Western United States.

We present here the complete genomes of 18 phages that infect Paenibacillus larvae, the causative agent of American foulbrood in honeybees. The phages were isolated between 2014 and 2016 as part of an undergraduate phage discovery course at Brigham Young University. The phages were isolated primarily from bee debris and lysogens.

Complete Genome Sequences of Paenibacillus larvae Phages Halcyone, Heath, Scottie, and Unity from Las Vegas, Nevada.

We present the complete genome sequences of four phages that infect Paenibacillus larvae, the causative agent of American foulbrood disease in honeybees. The phages were isolated from beehives and beeswax products from Las Vegas, Nevada. The genomes are 50 to 55 kbp long and use the "direct terminal repeats" DNA-packaging strategy.

Genomic Analysis of 48 Bacteriophages.

The antibiotic-resistant bacterium is the causative agent of American foulbrood (AFB), currently the most destructive bacterial disease in honeybees. Phages that infect were isolated as early as the 1950s, but it is only in recent years that phage genomes have been sequenced and annotated. In this study we analyze the genomes of all 48 currently sequenced phage genomes and classify them into four clusters and a singleton.

Complete Genome Sequences of Paenibacillus larvae Phages BN12, Dragolir, Kiel007, Leyra, Likha, Pagassa, PBL1c, and Tadhana.

We present here the complete genomes of eight phages that infect , the causative agent of American foulbrood in honeybees. Phage PBL1c was originally isolated in 1984 from a lysogen, while the remaining phages were isolated in 2014 from bee debris, honeycomb, and lysogens from three states in the USA.

Comparative genomics of 9 novel bacteriophages.

American Foulbrood Disease, caused by the bacterium , is one of the most destructive diseases of the honeybee, . Our group recently published the sequences of 9 new phages with the ability to infect and lyse . Here, we characterize the genomes of these phages, compare them to each other and to other sequenced phages, and putatively identify protein function.

Complete Genome Sequences of Nine Phages Capable of Infecting Paenibacillus larvae, the Causative Agent of American Foulbrood Disease in Honeybees.

We present here the complete genome sequences of nine phages that infect Paenibacillus larvae, the causative agent of American foulbrood disease in honeybees. The phages were isolated from soil, propolis, and infected bees from three U.S.

Formation of BCR oligomers provides a mechanism for B cell affinity discrimination.

B cells encounter antigen over a wide affinity range, from K(A)=10(5) M(-1) to K(A)=10(10) M(-1). The strength of B cell antigen receptor (BCR) signaling in response to antigen increases with affinity, a process known as "affinity discrimination". In this work, we use a computational simulation of B cell surface dynamics and membrane-proximal signaling to show that affinity discrimination can arise from the formation of BCR oligomers.