[et_pb_section fb_built=\u00bb1″ _builder_version=\u00bb4.16″ global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][et_pb_row column_structure=\u00bb2_3,1_3″ module_class=\u00bb et_pb_row_fullwidth\u00bb _builder_version=\u00bb4.16″ width=\u00bb89%\u00bb width_tablet=\u00bb80%\u00bb width_phone=\u00bb80%\u00bb width_last_edited=\u00bbon|desktop\u00bb max_width=\u00bb89%\u00bb max_width_tablet=\u00bb80%\u00bb max_width_phone=\u00bb80%\u00bb max_width_last_edited=\u00bbon|desktop\u00bb make_fullwidth=\u00bbon\u00bb locked=\u00bboff\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][et_pb_column type=\u00bb2_3″ _builder_version=\u00bb4.16″ custom_padding=\u00bb|||\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb custom_padding__hover=\u00bb|||\u00bb][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u00bb4.16″ text_font=\u00bb|700|||||||\u00bb text_text_color=\u00bb#256168″ text_font_size=\u00bb44px\u00bb text_font_size_tablet=\u00bb\u00bb text_font_size_phone=\u00bb33px\u00bb text_font_size_last_edited=\u00bbon|phone\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb]Bacteriophages
\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u00bb4.23.1″ text_font=\u00bb||||||||\u00bb text_text_color=\u00bb#256168″ text_font_size=\u00bb25px\u00bb text_line_height=\u00bb1.2em\u00bb background_color=\u00bb#eaeddb\u00bb custom_margin=\u00bb|||\u00bb custom_padding=\u00bb60px||60px|95px|true\u00bb custom_padding_tablet=\u00bb\u00bb custom_padding_phone=\u00bb40px|30px|40px|30px|true|true\u00bb custom_padding_last_edited=\u00bbon|phone\u00bb text_font_size_tablet=\u00bb\u00bb text_font_size_phone=\u00bb20px\u00bb text_font_size_last_edited=\u00bbon|phone\u00bb locked=\u00bboff\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb]<\/p>\n
1.1<\/strong> What is a bacteriophage?<\/a> [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text module_id=\u00bb1-1″ _builder_version=\u00bb4.23.1″ text_font=\u00bb||||||||\u00bb text_line_height=\u00bb1.3em\u00bb header_font=\u00bb||||||||\u00bb header_2_font=\u00bb|700|||||||\u00bb header_2_text_color=\u00bb#0a2d31″ header_2_font_size=\u00bb33px\u00bb hover_enabled=\u00bb0″ text_font_size_tablet=\u00bb\u00bb text_font_size_phone=\u00bb18px\u00bb text_font_size_last_edited=\u00bbon|phone\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb sticky_enabled=\u00bb0″]<\/p>\n Bacteriophages, also named phages, are viruses that infect and replicate within bacteria. These viruses are characterized by their structural simplicity as they can consist of only a DNA or RNA genome encapsulated in a protein shell, known as a capsid. Some may contain major appendixes, called tails. No external lipidic membrane is observed, unlike in many animal viruses. These features imply that in terms of composition, structure and morphology, phages share many fundamental properties with human viruses. [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=\u00bb1_3″ _builder_version=\u00bb4.16″ custom_padding=\u00bb|||\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb custom_padding__hover=\u00bb|||\u00bb][et_pb_image src=\u00bbhttps:\/\/coliphages.ixole.es\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/cta-bluephage.jpg\u00bb url=\u00bbhttp:\/\/bluephage.com\/\u00bb url_new_window=\u00bbon\u00bb align_tablet=\u00bbcenter\u00bb align_phone=\u00bbcenter\u00bb align_last_edited=\u00bbon|desktop\u00bb _builder_version=\u00bb4.16″ global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row module_class=\u00bb et_pb_row_fullwidth\u00bb _builder_version=\u00bb4.16″ background_color=\u00bb#f0f1ec\u00bb width=\u00bb89%\u00bb width_tablet=\u00bb80%\u00bb width_phone=\u00bb80%\u00bb width_last_edited=\u00bbon|desktop\u00bb max_width=\u00bb89%\u00bb max_width_tablet=\u00bb80%\u00bb max_width_phone=\u00bb80%\u00bb max_width_last_edited=\u00bbon|desktop\u00bb make_fullwidth=\u00bbon\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][et_pb_column type=\u00bb4_4″ _builder_version=\u00bb4.16″ custom_padding=\u00bb|||\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb custom_padding__hover=\u00bb|||\u00bb][et_pb_image src=\u00bbhttps:\/\/coliphages.ixole.es\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/bacteriophage-ok.jpg\u00bb align=\u00bbcenter\u00bb align_tablet=\u00bbcenter\u00bb align_phone=\u00bbcenter\u00bb align_last_edited=\u00bbon|desktop\u00bb _builder_version=\u00bb4.16″ custom_margin=\u00bb20px|||30px\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row module_class=\u00bb et_pb_row_fullwidth\u00bb _builder_version=\u00bb4.16″ width=\u00bb89%\u00bb width_tablet=\u00bb80%\u00bb width_phone=\u00bb80%\u00bb width_last_edited=\u00bbon|desktop\u00bb max_width=\u00bb89%\u00bb max_width_tablet=\u00bb80%\u00bb max_width_phone=\u00bb80%\u00bb max_width_last_edited=\u00bbon|desktop\u00bb make_fullwidth=\u00bbon\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][et_pb_column type=\u00bb4_4″ _builder_version=\u00bb4.16″ custom_padding=\u00bb|||\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb custom_padding__hover=\u00bb|||\u00bb][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u00bb4.16″ text_font=\u00bb||||||||\u00bb text_line_height=\u00bb1.3em\u00bb text_font_size_tablet=\u00bb\u00bb text_font_size_phone=\u00bb18px\u00bb text_font_size_last_edited=\u00bbon|phone\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb]<\/p>\n Note that the mentioned groups (families) are not the only ones, but they are the more commonly found in samples of any kind. The rest of the bacteriophage groups are rather rare to find. Electron microscope images of natural samples<\/strong> show that Siphoviridae<\/em><\/strong> and Myoviridae<\/em><\/strong> are the predominant<\/strong> ones.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=\u00bbhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=3VjE1zddXWk\u00bb url_new_window=\u00bbon\u00bb button_text=\u00bbaccess video content\u00bb button_alignment=\u00bbleft\u00bb _builder_version=\u00bb4.16″ custom_padding=\u00bb10px|50px|10px|50px|true|true\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb button_text_size__hover_enabled=\u00bboff\u00bb button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=\u00bboff\u00bb button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=\u00bboff\u00bb button_text_color__hover_enabled=\u00bboff\u00bb button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=\u00bboff\u00bb button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=\u00bboff\u00bb button_border_width__hover_enabled=\u00bboff\u00bb button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=\u00bboff\u00bb button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=\u00bboff\u00bb button_border_color__hover_enabled=\u00bboff\u00bb button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=\u00bboff\u00bb button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=\u00bboff\u00bb button_border_radius__hover_enabled=\u00bboff\u00bb button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=\u00bboff\u00bb button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=\u00bboff\u00bb button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=\u00bboff\u00bb button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=\u00bboff\u00bb button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=\u00bboff\u00bb button_bg_color__hover_enabled=\u00bboff\u00bb button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=\u00bboff\u00bb button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=\u00bboff\u00bb][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_text module_id=\u00bb1-2″ _builder_version=\u00bb4.23.1″ text_font=\u00bb||||||||\u00bb text_line_height=\u00bb1.3em\u00bb header_font=\u00bb||||||||\u00bb header_2_font=\u00bb|700|||||||\u00bb header_2_text_color=\u00bb#0a2d31″ header_2_font_size=\u00bb33px\u00bb header_3_font=\u00bb|700|||||||\u00bb header_3_text_color=\u00bb#0a2d31″ header_3_font_size=\u00bb24px\u00bb header_6_font=\u00bb||||||||\u00bb header_6_text_color=\u00bb#0a2d31″ hover_enabled=\u00bb0″ text_font_size_tablet=\u00bb\u00bb text_font_size_phone=\u00bb18px\u00bb text_font_size_last_edited=\u00bbon|phone\u00bb locked=\u00bboff\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb sticky_enabled=\u00bb0″]<\/p>\n Bacteriophages are the most abundant living organisms<\/strong> on the planet, with an estimated number of 10<\/strong>31<\/sup><\/strong> total viral particles (virions). They outnumber bacteria in most ecological niches<\/strong> where they have been studied (Weinbauer, 2004).<\/p>\n Bacteriophages have different roles in the biosphere:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u00bb4.16″ text_font=\u00bb||||||||\u00bb text_line_height=\u00bb1.3em\u00bb custom_margin=\u00bb|||40px\u00bb custom_margin_tablet=\u00bb\u00bb custom_margin_phone=\u00bb|||0px\u00bb custom_margin_last_edited=\u00bbon|phone\u00bb text_font_size_tablet=\u00bb\u00bb text_font_size_phone=\u00bb18px\u00bb text_font_size_last_edited=\u00bbon|phone\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb]<\/p>\n First, bacteriophages help to maintain the equilibrium of bacterial populations in the environment<\/strong> as they infect more individuals of a given bacterium when its population starts to grow and establishes itself as one of the dominant ones in the environment. This is known as the kill the winner hypothesis<\/strong>, which says that phages tend to infect and lyse the most abundant bacteria in the media so they can reproduce more.<\/p>\n A second implication<\/strong> is that when a bacterial cell is lysed, all of the material that it contained is released into the media, thus making it possible for other bacteria to re-use these components. This role is very important in the oceans where nutrients are usually scarce.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u00bb4.16″ text_font=\u00bb||||||||\u00bb text_line_height=\u00bb1.3em\u00bb header_font=\u00bb||||||||\u00bb header_2_font=\u00bb|700|||||||\u00bb header_2_text_color=\u00bb#0a2d31″ header_2_font_size=\u00bb33px\u00bb header_3_font=\u00bb|700|||||||\u00bb header_3_text_color=\u00bb#0a2d31″ header_3_font_size=\u00bb24px\u00bb header_6_font=\u00bb||||||||\u00bb header_6_text_color=\u00bb#0a2d31″ text_font_size_tablet=\u00bb\u00bb text_font_size_phone=\u00bb18px\u00bb text_font_size_last_edited=\u00bbon|phone\u00bb locked=\u00bboff\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb]<\/p>\n Providing variability to bacterial populations<\/strong><\/p>\n Bacteriophages play a major role in gene transfer between bacteria<\/strong>. This is achieved through a process known as transduction<\/strong>. Genetic material transfer can happen due to the fact that cell DNA can be incorporated into phage particles and introduced into new bacteria by phage infection (Bott, 2014).<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=\u00bbhttps:\/\/coliphages.ixole.es\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/cta-hor-bluephage.png\u00bb url=\u00bbhttp:\/\/bluephage.com\/\u00bb url_new_window=\u00bbon\u00bb align_tablet=\u00bbcenter\u00bb align_phone=\u00bbcenter\u00bb align_last_edited=\u00bbon|desktop\u00bb _builder_version=\u00bb4.16″ global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text module_id=\u00bb1-3″ _builder_version=\u00bb4.23.1″ text_font=\u00bb||||||||\u00bb text_line_height=\u00bb1.3em\u00bb header_font=\u00bb||||||||\u00bb header_2_font=\u00bb|700|||||||\u00bb header_2_text_color=\u00bb#0a2d31″ header_2_font_size=\u00bb33px\u00bb header_3_font=\u00bb|700|||||||\u00bb header_3_text_color=\u00bb#0a2d31″ header_3_font_size=\u00bb24px\u00bb header_6_font=\u00bb||||||||\u00bb header_6_text_color=\u00bb#0a2d31″ hover_enabled=\u00bb0″ text_font_size_tablet=\u00bb\u00bb text_font_size_phone=\u00bb18px\u00bb text_font_size_last_edited=\u00bbon|phone\u00bb locked=\u00bboff\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb sticky_enabled=\u00bb0″]<\/p>\n Discovered over 100 years ago, bacteriophages have played a crucial role in the progress of biotechnology<\/strong> (Marks and Sharp, 2000).<\/p>\n Their early isolation appeared to offer the first therapy for controlling bacterial infections. The discovery of antibiotics in the 1940s eclipsed bacteriophage\u2010based therapies<\/strong>. However, with the rise of drug\u2010resistant pathogens, phages are being re\u2010assessed as the basis of new therapeutic strategies.<\/p>\n Their host specificity facilitated their application in the typing and identification of bacteria<\/strong>. Bacteriophage typing schemes, known as phage-typing<\/strong>, were developed for many groups of pathogenic bacteria and more recently their host specificity has been applied to the development of bacterial detection and diagnostic strategies<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The advance in molecular biology over the second half of the last century was founded on the study of phage structure and genetics carried out in the 1950s and 1960s. Restriction endonucleases, DNA polymerases and ligases which form the basis of molecular cloning<\/strong> were developed following studies of phage infection<\/strong> and at present many phage enzymes provide tools for molecular biology<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Phage display has more recently provided a powerful technique for the identification and optimization of ligands for antibodies and other biomolecules.<\/p>\n Bacteriophages are being evaluated as delivery vehicles for protein and nucleic acids<\/strong>.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u00bb4.16″ text_font=\u00bb||||||||\u00bb text_font_size=\u00bb28px\u00bb text_line_height=\u00bb1.3em\u00bb background_color=\u00bb#f0f1ec\u00bb text_orientation=\u00bbcenter\u00bb custom_margin=\u00bb|||||true\u00bb custom_padding=\u00bb50px|50px|70px|50px||true\u00bb custom_padding_tablet=\u00bb\u00bb custom_padding_phone=\u00bb50px|30px|50px|30px|true|true\u00bb custom_padding_last_edited=\u00bbon|phone\u00bb text_font_size_tablet=\u00bb\u00bb text_font_size_phone=\u00bb21px\u00bb text_font_size_last_edited=\u00bbon|phone\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb]<\/p>\n In the environment they have been widely applied as tracers, as indicators of pollution and in the monitoring and validation of micro and ultrafilters.<\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u00bb4.16″ text_font=\u00bb||||||||\u00bb text_line_height=\u00bb1.3em\u00bb header_font=\u00bb||||||||\u00bb header_2_font=\u00bb|700|||||||\u00bb header_2_text_color=\u00bb#0a2d31″ header_2_font_size=\u00bb33px\u00bb header_3_font=\u00bb|700|||||||\u00bb header_3_text_color=\u00bb#0a2d31″ header_3_font_size=\u00bb24px\u00bb header_6_font=\u00bb||||||||\u00bb header_6_text_color=\u00bb#0a2d31″ text_font_size_tablet=\u00bb\u00bb text_font_size_phone=\u00bb18px\u00bb text_font_size_last_edited=\u00bbon|phone\u00bb locked=\u00bboff\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb]<\/p>\n Studies worldwide support the value of phages as practical and economic<\/strong> tools for monitoring the safety of water supplies along with the efficiency of water treatment and disinfection processes<\/strong> regarding fecal pollution as well as human and animal viruses (IAWPRC, 1991; Grabow, 2001; Jofre, 2007; Jebri et al., 2017).<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text module_id=\u00bb1-4″ _builder_version=\u00bb4.23.1″ text_font=\u00bb||||||||\u00bb text_line_height=\u00bb1.3em\u00bb header_font=\u00bb||||||||\u00bb header_2_font=\u00bb|700|||||||\u00bb header_2_text_color=\u00bb#0a2d31″ header_2_font_size=\u00bb33px\u00bb header_3_font=\u00bb|700|||||||\u00bb header_3_text_color=\u00bb#0a2d31″ header_3_font_size=\u00bb24px\u00bb header_6_font=\u00bb||||||||\u00bb header_6_text_color=\u00bb#0a2d31″ hover_enabled=\u00bb0″ text_font_size_tablet=\u00bb\u00bb text_font_size_phone=\u00bb18px\u00bb text_font_size_last_edited=\u00bbon|phone\u00bb locked=\u00bboff\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb sticky_enabled=\u00bb0″]<\/p>\n Bacteriophages are classified according to their morphology and type on nucleic acid<\/strong>. There is a great variety of combinations and consequently a wide range of bacteriophage types. However, the following six families are by far the most common among bacteriophages (Krupovic et al., 2016).<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=\u00bb1_3,2_3″ module_class=\u00bb et_pb_row_fullwidth\u00bb _builder_version=\u00bb4.16″ background_color=\u00bb#f0f1ec\u00bb width=\u00bb89%\u00bb width_tablet=\u00bb80%\u00bb width_phone=\u00bb80%\u00bb width_last_edited=\u00bbon|desktop\u00bb max_width=\u00bb89%\u00bb max_width_tablet=\u00bb80%\u00bb max_width_phone=\u00bb80%\u00bb max_width_last_edited=\u00bbon|desktop\u00bb custom_margin=\u00bb||||false\u00bb custom_padding=\u00bb30px||30px||true\u00bb make_fullwidth=\u00bbon\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][et_pb_column type=\u00bb1_3″ _builder_version=\u00bb4.16″ custom_padding=\u00bb20px|||30px\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb custom_padding__hover=\u00bb|||\u00bb][et_pb_image src=\u00bbhttps:\/\/coliphages.ixole.es\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/myoviridae.png\u00bb align_tablet=\u00bbcenter\u00bb align_phone=\u00bbcenter\u00bb align_last_edited=\u00bbon|desktop\u00bb _builder_version=\u00bb4.16″ max_width=\u00bb70%\u00bb custom_margin=\u00bb0px|||\u00bb custom_padding=\u00bb0px|||\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=\u00bb2_3″ _builder_version=\u00bb4.16″ custom_padding=\u00bb|20px||\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb custom_padding__hover=\u00bb|||\u00bb][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u00bb4.16″ text_font=\u00bb||||||||\u00bb text_font_size=\u00bb18px\u00bb text_line_height=\u00bb1.3em\u00bb header_font=\u00bb||||||||\u00bb header_2_font=\u00bb||||||||\u00bb header_3_font=\u00bb||||||||\u00bb header_3_text_color=\u00bb#0a2d31″ header_3_font_size=\u00bb24px\u00bb custom_margin_tablet=\u00bb|||20px\u00bb custom_margin_phone=\u00bb\u00bb custom_margin_last_edited=\u00bbon|phone\u00bb text_font_size_tablet=\u00bb\u00bb text_font_size_phone=\u00bb16px\u00bb text_font_size_last_edited=\u00bbon|phone\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb]<\/p>\n This kind of phage is characterized by having a cubic capsid (which can be elongated or icosahedral) and a long contractile tail. Their capsid diameter can vary from 65 nm up to 100 nm<\/strong>. As for the genetic material, the members of this group present linear double stranded (ds) DNA. A typical member would be the bacteriophage T4.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=\u00bb1_3,2_3″ module_class=\u00bb et_pb_row_fullwidth\u00bb _builder_version=\u00bb4.16″ width=\u00bb89%\u00bb width_tablet=\u00bb80%\u00bb width_phone=\u00bb80%\u00bb width_last_edited=\u00bbon|desktop\u00bb max_width=\u00bb89%\u00bb max_width_tablet=\u00bb80%\u00bb max_width_phone=\u00bb80%\u00bb max_width_last_edited=\u00bbon|desktop\u00bb custom_margin=\u00bb||||false\u00bb custom_padding=\u00bb30px||30px||true\u00bb make_fullwidth=\u00bbon\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][et_pb_column type=\u00bb1_3″ _builder_version=\u00bb4.16″ custom_padding=\u00bb20px|||30px\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb custom_padding__hover=\u00bb|||\u00bb][et_pb_image src=\u00bbhttps:\/\/coliphages.ixole.es\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/siphoviridae.png\u00bb align_tablet=\u00bbcenter\u00bb align_phone=\u00bbcenter\u00bb align_last_edited=\u00bbon|desktop\u00bb _builder_version=\u00bb4.16″ global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=\u00bb2_3″ _builder_version=\u00bb4.16″ custom_padding=\u00bb|20px||\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb custom_padding__hover=\u00bb|||\u00bb][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u00bb4.16″ text_font=\u00bb||||||||\u00bb text_font_size=\u00bb18px\u00bb text_line_height=\u00bb1.3em\u00bb header_font=\u00bb||||||||\u00bb header_2_font=\u00bb||||||||\u00bb header_3_font=\u00bb||||||||\u00bb header_3_text_color=\u00bb#0a2d31″ header_3_font_size=\u00bb24px\u00bb text_font_size_tablet=\u00bb\u00bb text_font_size_phone=\u00bb16px\u00bb text_font_size_last_edited=\u00bbon|phone\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb]<\/p>\n They present an icosahedral capsid and a long non-contractile tail. They usually have a capsid with a diameter between 50 nm and 70 nm<\/strong>. Like the Myoviridae<\/em>, they have linear dsDNA. Examples of this group are phage T5 and phage lambda.phage.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=\u00bb1_3,2_3″ module_class=\u00bb et_pb_row_fullwidth\u00bb _builder_version=\u00bb4.16″ background_color=\u00bb#f0f1ec\u00bb width=\u00bb89%\u00bb width_tablet=\u00bb80%\u00bb width_phone=\u00bb80%\u00bb width_last_edited=\u00bbon|desktop\u00bb max_width=\u00bb89%\u00bb max_width_tablet=\u00bb80%\u00bb max_width_phone=\u00bb80%\u00bb max_width_last_edited=\u00bbon|desktop\u00bb custom_margin=\u00bb||||false\u00bb custom_padding=\u00bb30px||30px||true\u00bb make_fullwidth=\u00bbon\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][et_pb_column type=\u00bb1_3″ _builder_version=\u00bb4.16″ custom_padding=\u00bb20px|||30px\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb custom_padding__hover=\u00bb|||\u00bb][et_pb_image src=\u00bbhttps:\/\/coliphages.ixole.es\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/podoviridae.png\u00bb align_tablet=\u00bbcenter\u00bb align_phone=\u00bbcenter\u00bb align_last_edited=\u00bbon|desktop\u00bb _builder_version=\u00bb4.16″ max_width=\u00bb40%\u00bb custom_margin=\u00bb|||60px\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=\u00bb2_3″ _builder_version=\u00bb4.16″ custom_padding=\u00bb|20px||\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb custom_padding__hover=\u00bb|||\u00bb][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u00bb4.16″ text_font=\u00bb||||||||\u00bb text_font_size=\u00bb18px\u00bb text_line_height=\u00bb1.3em\u00bb header_font=\u00bb||||||||\u00bb header_2_font=\u00bb||||||||\u00bb header_3_font=\u00bb||||||||\u00bb header_3_text_color=\u00bb#0a2d31″ header_3_font_size=\u00bb24px\u00bb custom_margin_tablet=\u00bb|||20px\u00bb custom_margin_phone=\u00bb\u00bb custom_margin_last_edited=\u00bbon|phone\u00bb text_font_size_tablet=\u00bb\u00bb text_font_size_phone=\u00bb16px\u00bb text_font_size_last_edited=\u00bbon|phone\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb]<\/p>\n In this case, the characteristic morphology of the group consists of an icosahedral capsid and a short non-contractile tail. Podoviridae<\/em> usually have a width of 60 nm up to 65 nm<\/strong>. Just like the previous groups, they present linear dsDNA. A representative member of this group is the bacteriophage T7.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=\u00bb1_3,2_3″ module_class=\u00bb et_pb_row_fullwidth\u00bb _builder_version=\u00bb4.16″ width=\u00bb89%\u00bb width_tablet=\u00bb80%\u00bb width_phone=\u00bb80%\u00bb width_last_edited=\u00bbon|desktop\u00bb max_width=\u00bb89%\u00bb max_width_tablet=\u00bb80%\u00bb max_width_phone=\u00bb80%\u00bb max_width_last_edited=\u00bbon|desktop\u00bb custom_margin=\u00bb||||false\u00bb custom_padding=\u00bb30px||30px||true\u00bb make_fullwidth=\u00bbon\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][et_pb_column type=\u00bb1_3″ _builder_version=\u00bb4.16″ custom_padding=\u00bb20px|||30px\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb custom_padding__hover=\u00bb|||\u00bb][et_pb_image src=\u00bbhttps:\/\/coliphages.ixole.es\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/microviridae.png\u00bb align_tablet=\u00bbcenter\u00bb align_phone=\u00bbcenter\u00bb align_last_edited=\u00bbon|desktop\u00bb _builder_version=\u00bb4.16″ max_width=\u00bb30%\u00bb custom_margin=\u00bb|||70px\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=\u00bb2_3″ _builder_version=\u00bb4.16″ custom_padding=\u00bb|20px||\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb custom_padding__hover=\u00bb|||\u00bb][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u00bb4.16″ text_font=\u00bb||||||||\u00bb text_font_size=\u00bb18px\u00bb text_line_height=\u00bb1.3em\u00bb header_font=\u00bb||||||||\u00bb header_2_font=\u00bb||||||||\u00bb header_3_font=\u00bb||||||||\u00bb header_3_text_color=\u00bb#0a2d31″ header_3_font_size=\u00bb24px\u00bb text_font_size_tablet=\u00bb\u00bb text_font_size_phone=\u00bb16px\u00bb text_font_size_last_edited=\u00bbon|phone\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb]<\/p>\n They are bacteriophages that only have an icosahedral capsid and present no tail. The diameter of each virion is around 25-30 nm<\/strong>. In this case, their nucleic acid is circular single stranded (ss) DNA. Within the Microviridae<\/em> we can find the bacteriophage \u1db2X174.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=\u00bb1_3,2_3″ module_class=\u00bb et_pb_row_fullwidth\u00bb _builder_version=\u00bb4.16″ background_color=\u00bb#f0f1ec\u00bb width=\u00bb89%\u00bb width_tablet=\u00bb80%\u00bb width_phone=\u00bb80%\u00bb width_last_edited=\u00bbon|desktop\u00bb max_width=\u00bb89%\u00bb max_width_tablet=\u00bb80%\u00bb max_width_phone=\u00bb80%\u00bb max_width_last_edited=\u00bbon|desktop\u00bb custom_margin=\u00bb||||false\u00bb custom_padding=\u00bb30px||30px||true\u00bb make_fullwidth=\u00bbon\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][et_pb_column type=\u00bb1_3″ _builder_version=\u00bb4.16″ custom_padding=\u00bb20px|||30px\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb custom_padding__hover=\u00bb|||\u00bb][et_pb_image src=\u00bbhttps:\/\/coliphages.ixole.es\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/inoviridae.png\u00bb align_tablet=\u00bbcenter\u00bb align_phone=\u00bbcenter\u00bb align_last_edited=\u00bbon|desktop\u00bb _builder_version=\u00bb4.16″ max_width=\u00bb9%\u00bb custom_margin=\u00bb|||80px\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=\u00bb2_3″ _builder_version=\u00bb4.16″ custom_padding=\u00bb|20px||\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb custom_padding__hover=\u00bb|||\u00bb][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u00bb4.16″ text_font=\u00bb||||||||\u00bb text_font_size=\u00bb18px\u00bb text_line_height=\u00bb1.3em\u00bb header_font=\u00bb||||||||\u00bb header_2_font=\u00bb||||||||\u00bb header_3_font=\u00bb||||||||\u00bb header_3_text_color=\u00bb#0a2d31″ header_3_font_size=\u00bb24px\u00bb custom_margin=\u00bb|40px||\u00bb custom_margin_tablet=\u00bb|||20px\u00bb custom_margin_phone=\u00bb\u00bb custom_margin_last_edited=\u00bbon|phone\u00bb text_font_size_tablet=\u00bb\u00bb text_font_size_phone=\u00bb16px\u00bb text_font_size_last_edited=\u00bbon|phone\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb]<\/p>\n This group presents a filamentous or rod-shaped morphology which is very different from the rest of groups, as the diameter is around 7 nm but they are up to 2000 nm long<\/strong>. They also present circular ssDNA. A typical member of this group is the phage M13.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=\u00bb1_3,2_3″ module_class=\u00bb et_pb_row_fullwidth\u00bb _builder_version=\u00bb4.16″ width=\u00bb89%\u00bb width_tablet=\u00bb80%\u00bb width_phone=\u00bb80%\u00bb width_last_edited=\u00bbon|desktop\u00bb max_width=\u00bb89%\u00bb max_width_tablet=\u00bb80%\u00bb max_width_phone=\u00bb80%\u00bb max_width_last_edited=\u00bbon|desktop\u00bb custom_margin=\u00bb||||false\u00bb custom_padding=\u00bb30px||30px||true\u00bb make_fullwidth=\u00bbon\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][et_pb_column type=\u00bb1_3″ _builder_version=\u00bb4.16″ custom_padding=\u00bb20px|||30px\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb custom_padding__hover=\u00bb|||\u00bb][et_pb_image src=\u00bbhttps:\/\/coliphages.ixole.es\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/leviviridae.png\u00bb align_tablet=\u00bbcenter\u00bb align_phone=\u00bbcenter\u00bb align_last_edited=\u00bbon|desktop\u00bb _builder_version=\u00bb4.16″ max_width=\u00bb20%\u00bb custom_margin=\u00bb|||80px\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=\u00bb2_3″ _builder_version=\u00bb4.16″ custom_padding=\u00bb|20px||\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb custom_padding__hover=\u00bb|||\u00bb][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u00bb4.16″ text_font=\u00bb||||||||\u00bb text_font_size=\u00bb18px\u00bb text_line_height=\u00bb1.3em\u00bb header_font=\u00bb||||||||\u00bb header_2_font=\u00bb||||||||\u00bb header_3_font=\u00bb||||||||\u00bb header_3_text_color=\u00bb#0a2d31″ header_3_font_size=\u00bb24px\u00bb text_font_size_tablet=\u00bb\u00bb text_font_size_phone=\u00bb16px\u00bb text_font_size_last_edited=\u00bbon|phone\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb]<\/p>\n The Leviviridae<\/em> are a phage group characterized by having an icosahedral capsid and linear ssRNA as nucleic acid. Their diameter is around 25 nm<\/strong>. The phage MS2 would be a representative member of this group.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row module_class=\u00bb et_pb_row_fullwidth\u00bb _builder_version=\u00bb4.16″ width=\u00bb89%\u00bb width_tablet=\u00bb80%\u00bb width_phone=\u00bb80%\u00bb width_last_edited=\u00bbon|desktop\u00bb max_width=\u00bb89%\u00bb max_width_tablet=\u00bb80%\u00bb max_width_phone=\u00bb80%\u00bb max_width_last_edited=\u00bbon|desktop\u00bb custom_padding=\u00bb31.7833px|0px|0|0px|false|false\u00bb make_fullwidth=\u00bbon\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][et_pb_column type=\u00bb4_4″ _builder_version=\u00bb4.16″ custom_padding=\u00bb|||\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb custom_padding__hover=\u00bb|||\u00bb][et_pb_divider divider_weight=\u00bb2px\u00bb _builder_version=\u00bb4.16″ max_width=\u00bb20%\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u00bb4.16″ text_font=\u00bb|700|||||||\u00bb text_text_color=\u00bb#256168″ text_font_size=\u00bb33px\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb]<\/p>\n References<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u00bb4.16″ text_font=\u00bb||||||||\u00bb text_font_size=\u00bb15px\u00bb text_line_height=\u00bb1.3em\u00bb background_color=\u00bb#eaeddb\u00bb custom_padding=\u00bb50px|50px|50px|50px|true|true\u00bb custom_padding_tablet=\u00bb\u00bb custom_padding_phone=\u00bb|30px||30px||true\u00bb custom_padding_last_edited=\u00bbon|phone\u00bb text_font_size_tablet=\u00bb\u00bb text_font_size_phone=\u00bb12px\u00bb text_font_size_last_edited=\u00bbon|phone\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb]<\/p>\n Bott, R. (2014).<\/em> Brock Biology of Microorganisms<\/strong>, 14th Edition, Madigan, M.T. Igarss 2014.<\/p>\n Grabow, W. (2001)<\/em> Bacteriophages: update on application as models for viruses in water<\/strong>. Water SA 27, 251\u2013268<\/p>\n IAWPRC, Study Group on Health Related Water Microbiology. (1991)<\/em> Bacteriophages as model viruses in water quality control<\/strong>. Water Res 25, 529\u2013545.<\/p>\n Jebri, S., Muniesa, M. and Jofre, J. (2017)<\/em>. General and host-associated bacteriophage indicators of fecal pollution<\/strong>. In: J.B. Rose and B. Jim\u00e9nez-Cisneros, (eds) Global Water Pathogens Project. http:\/\/www.waterpathogens.org<\/a> (A. Farnleitner, and A. Blanch (eds) Part 2 Indicators and Microbial Source Tracking Markers) http:\/\/www.waterpathogens.org\/book\/coliphage<\/a> Michigan State University, E. Lansing, MI, UNESCO.<\/p>\n
1.2<\/strong> Bacteriophages in the biosphere<\/a>
1.3<\/strong> Uses for bacteriophages<\/a>
1.4<\/strong> Bacteriophage diversity<\/a><\/p>\n1.1 What is a Bacteriophage?<\/h2>\n
The whole viral particle is called a virion<\/p>\n1.2 Bacteriophages in the biosphere<\/h2>\n
Regulating bacterial populations<\/h3>\n
1.3 Uses for bacteriophages<\/h2>\n
<\/h3>\n
Bacteriophages as indicators<\/a><\/h3>\n
1.4 Bacteriophage diversity<\/h2>\n
Myoviridae<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n
Siphoviridae<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n
Podoviridae <\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n
Microviridae<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n
Inoviridae<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n
Leviviridae<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n