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Austin Peay State University’s student-discovered Phages entered into National Genetic Sequence Database
Last fall semester, students in Dr. Sergei Markov’s biology classes discovered three new bacteria-infecting viruses called bacteriophages, aka phages. Another group of students annotated the genomes of the phages during the spring. Now the DNA sequences of two of those phages have been entered into the National Institutes of Health genetic sequence database known as GenBank. A third APSU phage is expected to be added soon. As part of their research, the students who discovered the three phages also earned the honor of naming them. The APSU Students and their Phages are:
The Austin Peay State University students and professors who worked on the phages are listed as authors in the GenBank. ![]() This is an image of the bacteriophage named Otwor discovered by Austin Peay State University students. (APSU) Phage hunters started work last fallMarkov and 10 students started work in the SEA-PHAGES program last fall. The program offers students a yearlong laboratory course in which they discover, isolate and analyze phages. That work led to the discovery of Otwor, Danno and Scumberland. During the spring semester, seven of Markov’s students worked on annotating the genomes of the three phages before submitting them to the University of Pittsburg, the lead institution for the SEA-PHAGES program. Drs. James Church and Leong Lee from the Austin Peay State University Department of Computer Science and Information Technology joined the students, offering help in collecting and analyzing the complex biological data of the phage genomes.
The SEA-PHAGES goal is simple: Increase undergraduate interest and retention in the biological sciences through research immersion. Several thousand college students join the program each year, and their research goes into the massive GenBank. That bank has helped scientists find new ways to treat patients with debilitating bacterial infections. Phages are bacteria-killing viruses. They’re harmless to humans, and scientists can study them easily. They’re everywhere. More than a nonillion phages – that’s 1 followed by 30 zeroes – exist on Earth in dirt, water and air. Markov’s students gathered their most of their phages from dirt they found on campus. To learn more
SectionsEducationTopicsAPSU, APSU Department of Biology, APSU Department of Computer Science and Information Technology, APSU Students, Austin Peay State University, Bacteria, Clarksville, Clarksville TN, Cumberland River, James Church, Leong Lee, Sergei Markov, U.S. National Institutes of Health, Viruses |
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