Comparative Analyses of Bacteriophage Genomes.

Bacterial viruses (bacteriophages or phages) are the most abundant and diverse biological entities on Earth. There is a renewed worldwide interest in phage-centered research motivated by their enormous potential as antimicrobials to cope with multidrug-resistant pathogens. An ever-growing number of complete phage genomes are becoming available, derived either from newly isolated phages (cultivated phages) or recovered from metagenomic sequencing data (uncultivated phages).

Discovery and description of novel phage genomes from urban microbiomes sampled by the MetaSUB consortium.

Bacteriophages are recognized as the most abundant members of microbiomes and have therefore a profound impact on microbial communities through the interactions with their bacterial hosts. The International Metagenomics and Metadesign of Subways and Urban Biomes Consortium (MetaSUB) has sampled mass-transit systems in 60 cities over 3 years using metagenomics, throwing light into these hitherto largely unexplored urban environments. MetaSUB focused primarily on the bacterial community.