Comparative genomics of bacteria and phages for precision phage biocontrol

Bacteria cause diseases in humans, animals, and plants but they are themselves susceptible to bacteriophages, viruses that infect bacteria. Interactions between bacteria and phages are determined by surface interactions, bacterial immune systems and viral counter defence which are facilitated by proteins encoded in their respective genomes.

We investigate bacterium-phage interactions by determining how infection outcomes are influenced by genome composition and predict interactions based on sequence data. Therefore, we can use phages to control the spread of bacterial pathogens.

I will present results on susceptibility of the plant pathogen Pseudomonas syringae to phages isolated from cherry orchards in Central Otago.