Determining the Optimal Infection Temperature and Burst Size of Gordonia rubripertincta Bacteriophage
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance represents a significant global health crisis, especially within hospitals, creating a necessity for the search for alternative therapeutic agents to combat drug-resistant pathogens. One source of treatment is phages specifically targeting G. rubripertincta, a gram-positive, aerobic actinomycete bacterium which has shown intrinsic resistance to some antibiotics. Furthermore, G. rubripertincta can cause endocarditis and CNS infections in immunocompromised individuals. Several phages such as Alyssamiracle, Fribs8, Genamy16, and NovaSharks, have been discovered that successfully target G. rubripertincta. The goal of this research is to determine the optimal infection temperature and the burst size of these phases. By growing G. rubripertincta in PYCa agar in the presence of phages, the spot test was conducted to observe the activity of phages on the bacteria at temperatures of 25°C, 30°C, 35°C, and 40°C. For all four phages, it was found that 30°C was the ideal infection temperature. The phages work in a lytic manner, bursting the bacteria and releasing its viral progeny further enhancing the targeting of the bacteria. The burst size will be determined by gathering the total number of phage progeny in one round of infection over the total number of infected cells, through a one-step growth curve. As aforementioned, with G. rubripertincta’s inherent resistance, knowing the phages ideal infection temperature and burst size will aid in the development of more effective phage therapy.
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
Determining the Optimal Infection Temperature and Burst Size of Gordonia rubripertincta Bacteriophage
Alvin Sherman Library
Antibiotic resistance represents a significant global health crisis, especially within hospitals, creating a necessity for the search for alternative therapeutic agents to combat drug-resistant pathogens. One source of treatment is phages specifically targeting G. rubripertincta, a gram-positive, aerobic actinomycete bacterium which has shown intrinsic resistance to some antibiotics. Furthermore, G. rubripertincta can cause endocarditis and CNS infections in immunocompromised individuals. Several phages such as Alyssamiracle, Fribs8, Genamy16, and NovaSharks, have been discovered that successfully target G. rubripertincta. The goal of this research is to determine the optimal infection temperature and the burst size of these phases. By growing G. rubripertincta in PYCa agar in the presence of phages, the spot test was conducted to observe the activity of phages on the bacteria at temperatures of 25°C, 30°C, 35°C, and 40°C. For all four phages, it was found that 30°C was the ideal infection temperature. The phages work in a lytic manner, bursting the bacteria and releasing its viral progeny further enhancing the targeting of the bacteria. The burst size will be determined by gathering the total number of phage progeny in one round of infection over the total number of infected cells, through a one-step growth curve. As aforementioned, with G. rubripertincta’s inherent resistance, knowing the phages ideal infection temperature and burst size will aid in the development of more effective phage therapy.
