Gordonia phage Tonaltzin
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Detailed Information for Phage Tonaltzin
Discovery Information
Isolation HostGordonia rubripertincta NRRL B-16540
Found ByRyal Tilleth
Year Found2023
Location FoundLas Vegas, NV United States
Finding InstitutionCollege of Southern Nevada
ProgramScience Education Alliance-Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science
From enriched soil sample?Unknown
Isolation Temperature30°C
GPS Coordinates36.225576 N, 115.084276 W Map
Discovery NotesThis phage was originally isolated by Ryal Tilleth in Fall 2023 from a soil sample collected at Alexander Villas Park. The sample came from a darker, biologically rich area with abundant fauna. The phage was later adopted by Emilce Camila Ortuno Valdez in Fall 2025 for further study (purification, amplification, and characterization).
Naming NotesThe name Tonaltzin comes from Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs, which is more widely recognized than Purepecha. I, Emilce Camila Ortuno Valdez, a Mexican college student with some Purepecha heritage, wanted a name that honors indigenous cultures and is meaningful both personally and to the broader scientific community. Tonaltzin can be interpreted as “little sun” or “little vital spark,” reflecting the phage’s small size, slow growth, and persistent nature.
Sequencing Information
Sequencing Complete?Yes
Date Sequencing CompletedJan 14, 2026
Sequencing FacilityPittsburgh Bacteriophage Institute
Shotgun Sequencing MethodIllumina
Sequencer UsedIllumina NextSeq 1000
Read TypeSingle-end reads
Read Length100 bp
Approximate Shotgun Coverage155
Genome length (bp)61033
Character of genome ends3' Sticky Overhang
Overhang Length9 bases
Overhang SequenceCGCCGCTCT
GC Content51.5%
Fasta file available?Yes: Download fasta file
Characterization
ClusterDJ
Subcluster--
Cluster Life CycleLytic
Other Cluster Members
Annotating InstitutionCollege of Southern Nevada
Annotation StatusBeing Annotated (Expected completion by 5/1/2026)
Plaque NotesThe Plaques are very small, mostly clear, and exhibit a fuzzy or "cloudy" edge along the perimeter. The center of the plaques is very dark, creating a strong contrast with the surrounding fuzzy edge. Overall, the plaques are tiny, well-defined, and have a distinctive halo-like appearance.
Number of Genes96
Number of tRNAs0
Number of tmRNAs0
Has been Phamerated?Yes
Gene List
Publication Info
Uploaded to GenBank?No
GenBank AccessionNone yet
Refseq NumberNone yet
Archiving Info
Archiving status Not in Pitt Archives