Burst Size Determination of a Newly Discovered Yersinia pestis Bacteriophage
Abstract
The escalating global resistance to antibiotics has called for innovative alternatives to combat bacterial infections. Bacteriophages, viruses that can specifically target and destroy antibiotic-resistant bacteria, have emerged as a promising potential solution in phage therapy. This research focuses on a newly discovered phage capable of infecting Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of the bubonic plague, through the lytic cycle. In the lytic cycle, bacteriophages infect and replicate within bacterial cells, causing the cells to burst and release newly formed phages. Specifically, this study aims to characterize this recently discovered phage, utilizing experiments to determine its burst size, which indicates the number of progeny phages released after bacterial lysis. Through a series of experiments, including a one-step growth curve, we aim to monitor the replication of both the bacterium and the phage over time. The one-step growth curve for the bacteria alone serves as a baseline, and subsequent curves with bacteriophages provide information about the phage’s impact on the bacterial replication cycle. In addition, a plate reader will be utilized to measure optical density at specific intervals for continuous data that will allow us to determine when lysis occurs. These combined methods serve as a crucial step in quantifying the burst size of the identified phage and evaluating its therapeutic potential against antibiotic-resistance bacteria.
Faculty Sponsors
Dr. Julie Torruellas Garcia
Project Type
Event
Location
Alvin Sherman Library
Start Date
4-3-2024 12:30 PM
End Date
4-4-2024 1:30 PM
Burst Size Determination of a Newly Discovered Yersinia pestis Bacteriophage
Alvin Sherman Library
The escalating global resistance to antibiotics has called for innovative alternatives to combat bacterial infections. Bacteriophages, viruses that can specifically target and destroy antibiotic-resistant bacteria, have emerged as a promising potential solution in phage therapy. This research focuses on a newly discovered phage capable of infecting Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of the bubonic plague, through the lytic cycle. In the lytic cycle, bacteriophages infect and replicate within bacterial cells, causing the cells to burst and release newly formed phages. Specifically, this study aims to characterize this recently discovered phage, utilizing experiments to determine its burst size, which indicates the number of progeny phages released after bacterial lysis. Through a series of experiments, including a one-step growth curve, we aim to monitor the replication of both the bacterium and the phage over time. The one-step growth curve for the bacteria alone serves as a baseline, and subsequent curves with bacteriophages provide information about the phage’s impact on the bacterial replication cycle. In addition, a plate reader will be utilized to measure optical density at specific intervals for continuous data that will allow us to determine when lysis occurs. These combined methods serve as a crucial step in quantifying the burst size of the identified phage and evaluating its therapeutic potential against antibiotic-resistance bacteria.
