Genetics and Genomics of Bacteriophages: The Evolution of Bacteriophage Genomes and Genomic Research

Abstract

In recent years, advancements in sequencing technology and genome analysis software have broadened the horizons for bacteriophage research. As the repository of data generated continues to grow, the fundamental principles of bacteriophages in terms of their population numbers, diversity, and composition have become increasingly apparent. Comparative genomic analyses have facilitated the definition of key concepts such as “mosaicism,” providing researchers with an insight into the highly complex nature of bacteriophage evolution, while the identification of “viral hallmark genes” has established an underpinning connection between bacteriophages throughout the virosphere. Furthermore, large-scale metagenomic research has confirmed bacteriophages as potential candidates for exploitation in a number of biological applications, including rapid detection of pathogens, as well as in the development of antimicrobials and repair enzymes. In order to exploit bacteriophages to their fullest capabilities, developments and improvements to the current collection of analysis software must be made in order to handle the expansive wealth of data that continues to be generated.