How might mycobacteriophages be used to genetically modify tuberculosis?

It is possible for mycobacteriophages to genetically modify tuberculosis.  One type of phage reproduction is lysogeny.  In lysogeny, a phage blends some of its D.N.A. with the genetic material of the host bacteria.  Sometimes, this will allow the transfer of bacterial genes between cells.  This is called transduction.  In generalized transduction, bacterial rather than phage D.N.A. is packaged into a phage head.  When injected, this D.N.A. can be incorporated into the chromosomes causing genetic change.  The genetic change occurs when the D.N.A. moves in the middle of an enzyme and therefore disables it.  This creates a mutant strain of the bacterium (tuberculosis for this case) to appear.

--Chris

Diversity In Mycobacterium

While all bacteriophages are unique, a few identifying characteristics can be used to compare and contrast different viruses. The most obvious difference when viewed under an electron microscope is the basic structure. The three major structures of phages that have already been discovered are a) isocahedral tailless b) isocahedral tailed c) filamentous (rod-shaped). Tailed phages can be differentiated by the amount of tail fibers they have (0-6). Harder to discover but equally important is the genetic material involved in reproduction: whether it’s DNA or RNA and also whether the nucleic acid contains linear or circular chromosomes. Finally, Phages are usually classified by the type of bacteria they infect. Phages which infect Mycobacteria, (Mycobacteriophages, which we are researching,) all have been discovered to have an isometric head (with the exception of “Corndog”.) This also means that no filamentous mycobacteriophages have been discovered.

--Stephen

How does a bacteria need phage to evolve?

Evolution is when an organism changes into a new species. This is usually done in order to ensure a greater chance of survival. Organisms evolve into new species by inheriting new traits from their genes. These new traits can be caused by a mutation in the genes that are passed down. Or they can just be the favored allele of a gene, example those moose who are taller can reach more food. Therefore, in the natural environment, taller moose would have a greater chance of survival. Thus, would be able to reproduce. This process is known as Charles Darwin's theory of Natural Selection.
Bacteria reproduce asexually, so there is no variation of genes in a colony. And no way for them to exchange DNA. Phages can allow exchange of DNA, as well as force natural selection. The way phages allow gene diversity is after they insert their own genetic material and reproduce new virus in the bacteria. However, when a virus makes copies of itself, sometimes it extracts some of the bacteria's DNA and copies that into the virus. When these virus infect other bacteria they add the other bacteria's genes to the new bacteria. Thus creating genetic diversity. Also if a bacteria is somehow able to resist infection, they are able to reproduce drastically, following the process of natural selection. 
--Amanda