Defining the essential genome of diverse phages with phage Tn-seq.

Phage Tn-seq identifies essential genes across diverse phages, including jumbo and hypermodified DNA phages, with 100% success in gene essentiality assignment.

• Why it matters: Understanding phage biology and engineering capabilities is crucial for developing phage-based therapies and combating bacterial evolution, yet current tools are limited.
• What they did: The study developed phage Tn-seq, a genome-wide mutational approach using Tn5 transposon mutagenesis, anti-CRISPR selection, and deep-sequencing across various phages, including jumbo and hypermodified DNA types.
• The result: Phage Tn-seq enables rapid gene essentiality mapping, prediction of transcriptional regions, and delivery of new genetic cargo, advancing phage research and therapeutic potential.