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Exploring Functions for Common Phage Proteins

Author(s): Jessica Rocheleau1, Matthew David Mastropaolo2, C. Nicole Sunnen3, Andrea R. Beyer4, Thomas Ndolo5, Daniel Williams, Sanghamitra Saha6, Natasha Dean7

1. University of Massachusetts, Amherst 2. Neumann University 3. Saint Joseph's University 4. Virginia State University 5. South Texas College 6. University of Houston-Downtown 7. La Sierra University

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Summary:
This resource is designed to help students better understand the functions of common structural and enzymatic phage proteins, and to relate these functions to phage structure using electron micrographs, phage life cycles, and to phage genome…

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This resource is designed to help students better understand the functions of common structural and enzymatic phage proteins, and to relate these functions to phage structure using electron micrographs, phage life cycles, and to phage genome architecture.

Licensed under Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal

Version 1.0 - published on 07 Aug 2020 doi:10.25334/3YA4-H358 - cite this

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  2. Audience Level
  3. Inclusive Pedagogy for Life Science Education
Contents:
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Description

These learning activities were created to help students better understand the functions of common structural and enzymatic proteins encoded in phage genomes, and relate these functions to phage structure using electron micrographs, phage life cycles, and to phage genome architecture.

Learning objectives:  After completing this module, students should be able to:

Corresponding Activities

Develop a set of common functions and/or proteins that should be encoded in phage genomes

Part 1: Choose Your Phage Adventure; Brainstorming

Categorize phage gene products according to their roles in phage structure, in phage replication, and in life cycle regulation.

Part 2:  Labeling of Electron Micrograph and Lifecycle Diagram, Sequential ranking and grouping of functions, Labeling of Model Genome Phamerator Map

Analyze the placement of groups of phage functions within the genome using phamerator maps

Part 2:  Labeling of Model Genome Phamerator Map

Relate phage functions/proteins to a phage electron micrograph and lifecycle diagram

Part 2:  Labeling of Electron Micrograph and Lifecycle Diagram;
Part 3:  Labeling & Reflection

Identify the accepted names and explain the roles of the most common phage functions

Part 3:  Crossword, Matching games, EdPuzzle videos, Required or Not?

Evaluate which gene products are required by phages of each morphotype

Part 3:  Required or Not?

 

 

How is the module structured to promote student development as a scientist? 

This instructional module aids students in relating phage biology to phage genomics. The student activities, designed to be completed in tandem, address 9 of the 10 student learning outcomes outlined in a “Model for Becoming a Scientist” (Hanauer, unpublished). Students are encouraged to work independently and collaboratively with peers while associating phage protein structure and function to infection cycles. The interactive activities facilitate engagement, enthusiasm, and persistence in learning, and students are expected to evaluate their knowledge and understanding through group discussion and concept comparisons. The instructor guides acquisition of these important scientific skills by modeling scientific thinking, providing appropriate assessments, and helping students explore phage proteins that may not directly appear to correlate with the phage life cycle.

Intended Teaching Setting

Course level: These activities are introductory in nature and could be used for both majors and non-majors.
Instructional Setting: This material can be done in a face-to-face format where students could work in groups or by themselves.  This material can also be used in an online format and students can work virtually in groups or by themselves.
Implementation Time Frame:  approximately 2 ½ to 3 hours total, see below for a breakdown.

Part 1: Introductory Brainstorm (35 minutes)

  1. Choose Your Phage Adventure - 15 minutes
  2. Brainstorm - 20 minutes

Part 2: Identifying and Organizing Phage Protein Functions (40 minutes)

  1. Labeling of Electron Micrograph and Lifecycle Diagram,  (10 minutes)
  2. Sequential ranking and grouping of functions (5 minutes)
  3. Labeling of Model Genome Phamerator Map (25 minutes)

Part 3: Reinforcing Functions and Terminology (20 minutes to 1 ½ hours) 

Choose one or more of the following activities.

  1. Matching games, crossword puzzle, EdPuzzle videos - 15-20 minutes each
  2. Required Function or Not? activity - 40 minutes
  3. Labeling & Reflection - 20 minutes

Project Documents

Facilitator documents:

Instructor Guide
Part 2 Images & Maps -Instructor (powerpoint)
Part 3-1.4: Functions Crossword puzzle_answerkey (pdf)
Part 3-1.4: Functions_Vocabulary List (word doc)
Part 3-2: Required Function or not Answer Key (excel)
Assessment Questions Bank-Answers (word doc)
Phage Assembly & other useful images (powerpoint)

Learning activity document(s): 

Part 1_Brainstorm - Student (word doc)
Part 1.2: Choose your own phage adventure (Google Form)
Part 2_Identifying and Organizing Phage Protein Functions - Student Instructions (word doc)
Part 2-1 Images -Student (powerpoint)
Part 3_Reinforcing Functions and Terminology

Assessment document(s):

Part 3-1.4: Functions Crossword puzzle_student (pdf)
Part 3-1.4: Functions Crossword puzzle_student (png)
Part 3-2_ Required Function of not worksheet (excel)
Assessment Question Bank (word doc)

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