Abstract 1452 Genome-Wide Cytotoxicity Screening of Mycobacteriophage Mercurio

Drug-resistant infections caused by pathogenic Mycobacterium species, such as M. tuberculosis, M. leprae, and M. abscessus, represent a growing public health threat. Representing an untapped source of natural bacterial lysis mechanisms, bacteriophage gene products have been investigated for their abilities to overcome antiphage responses, contribute to lytic activity, or prevent superinfection by other phages. Although thousands of bacteriophage genomes have been sequenced and annotated, approximately 70% of their gene products lack structural characterization and functional assignment.