Examining novel bacteriophage against Staphylococcus species
Disciplines
Bacteriology | Cell Biology | Environmental Microbiology and Microbial Ecology | Molecular Biology | Pathogenic Microbiology
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Viruses are infectious microbes containing DNA or RNA within a protein coat. They are nonliving and require a host to replicate. Bacteriophages are viruses that utilize bacteria as a host organism. Bacteriophages are highly selective and do not infect human cells; they only target disease-causing bacteria and do not disrupt the body’s normal microbiome. Antimicrobial resistance jeopardizes the ability to treat bacterial infections. As such, it is necessary to explore new treatment options, such as phage therapy. Currently, bacteriophages are only used to treat disease in situations where all other options have been exhausted. More information is needed for phage therapy to become more widespread and available for use in healthcare settings. KSU alumnus Ross Wood processed samples from opossum intestines and isolated a bacteriophage, which he named MRSAΦOPP. He hypothesized that through interactions with humans and human waste, opossums may encounter pathogens and phages that could be relevant to modern medicine. His preliminary findings show that the phage shows some lytic activity in S. aureus and Enterococcus species. This project aims to expand on Ross’ research with MRSAΦOPP and examine its ability to infect and lyse an array of Staphylococcus species (S. aureus, methicillin-resistant S. aureus, S. intermedius, and S. saprophyticus). A spotting assay will be used to determine the effect of the phage on a host. The host species is mixed with molten top agar and poured onto LB plates to grow a bacterial lawn. The bacteriophage is serially diluted and spotted directly onto the lawn. If the phage successfully infects and kills the host, plaques, areas of dead bacteria, will form. Findings thus far indicate that the phage MRSAΦOPP effectively lyses MRSA and S. aureus. Further research to characterize and type phage MRSAΦOPP will be conducted in the upcoming weeks.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
CSM - Molecular and Cellular Biology
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Melanie Griffin
Examining novel bacteriophage against Staphylococcus species
Viruses are infectious microbes containing DNA or RNA within a protein coat. They are nonliving and require a host to replicate. Bacteriophages are viruses that utilize bacteria as a host organism. Bacteriophages are highly selective and do not infect human cells; they only target disease-causing bacteria and do not disrupt the body’s normal microbiome. Antimicrobial resistance jeopardizes the ability to treat bacterial infections. As such, it is necessary to explore new treatment options, such as phage therapy. Currently, bacteriophages are only used to treat disease in situations where all other options have been exhausted. More information is needed for phage therapy to become more widespread and available for use in healthcare settings. KSU alumnus Ross Wood processed samples from opossum intestines and isolated a bacteriophage, which he named MRSAΦOPP. He hypothesized that through interactions with humans and human waste, opossums may encounter pathogens and phages that could be relevant to modern medicine. His preliminary findings show that the phage shows some lytic activity in S. aureus and Enterococcus species. This project aims to expand on Ross’ research with MRSAΦOPP and examine its ability to infect and lyse an array of Staphylococcus species (S. aureus, methicillin-resistant S. aureus, S. intermedius, and S. saprophyticus). A spotting assay will be used to determine the effect of the phage on a host. The host species is mixed with molten top agar and poured onto LB plates to grow a bacterial lawn. The bacteriophage is serially diluted and spotted directly onto the lawn. If the phage successfully infects and kills the host, plaques, areas of dead bacteria, will form. Findings thus far indicate that the phage MRSAΦOPP effectively lyses MRSA and S. aureus. Further research to characterize and type phage MRSAΦOPP will be conducted in the upcoming weeks.