Multiplicity of Infection Calculator - Bacteriophage Ecology Group

Click here to run searches or see immediately below for further explanation and discussion.

It just isn't cool to name your phage with a name that's already been taken by somebody else. Use the handy 'app' below to check to see whether 'your' phage name is currently found on Google Scholar, Google Books, PubMed, or even Bacteriophage Names 2000.

This effort nevertheless should be viewed as an extension (certainly not duplication!) of Bacteriophage Names 2000. (Which, to my knowledge, was the first comprehensive online list of electron micrographically characterized phages.)

For how you might consider naming your phages, see

Adriaenssens and Brister (2017)

as well as

Kropinski, Prangishvili, and Lavigne (2009)

It is important to keep in mind that these searchers are not perfect indicators of the existence of a phage going by a given name, but nevertheless search hits are a very good indicator that one does exist!

Hint: When in doubt, try replacing Greek letters with their Latin counterparts, e.g., f for phi (φ), or instead phi for φ. Alternatively you can try copying and pasting from the Greek alphabet provided below.

Note that generally one should avoid using Greek letters when naming phages!

Note also that you can use this tool just to check on what's been written on your favorite phages. :-)

α β γ δ ε ζ η θ ι κ λ μ ν ξ ο π ρ ς σ τ υ φ χ ψ ω
Α Β Γ Δ Ε Ζ Η Θ Ι Κ Λ Μ Ν Ξ Ο Π Ρ Σ Τ Υ Φ Χ Ψ Ω

Phage Name Check