Characterization of Microbacterium foliorum Bacteriophages isolated from the North Catawba River Region
Poster Number
002
College
College of Arts and Sciences
Department
Biology
Faculty Mentor
Kristi Westover, Ph.D., and Victoria Frost, Ph.D.
Abstract
This is the third year that Winthrop University has offered a two-semester undergraduate research course as part of the SEA-PHAGES (Science Education Alliance – Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science) program sponsored by the HHMI Science Education Alliance. There are thought to be approximately 1031 phage particles in existence. A mere 3000 phages have so far been isolated and characterized as part of this discovery program. During the Fall 2018 semester, students focused on isolating and identifying unique bacteriophages using Microbacterium foliorum as the bacterial host. The bacterium is present in the phyllosphere of vegetation and thrives in humid environments, growing best at 30 °C. All samples were isolated from the North Catawba River Region. Phage DNA was isolated and cut using restriction enzymes in tandem with a Phage Enzyme Tool (PET). DNA gel electrophoresis was used to display the DNA fingerprints of the individual phages; their patterns were then uploaded onto the PET program to predict the cluster of a phage. Once the individual phages were isolated, they were imaged using transmission electron microscopy to determine morphology and approximate size. Two phages with high titer lysates and unique restriction digest patterns, Rhysand and MonChoix, were sent to the University of Pittsburgh for DNA sequencing. The complete genomes were incorporated into the second part of the SEA-PHAGES research project: bioinformatics.
Previously Presented/Performed?
Southeastern Undergraduate Science Symposium, Charlotte, North Carolina, March 2019
Start Date
12-4-2019 12:00 PM
End Date
April 2019
Characterization of Microbacterium foliorum Bacteriophages isolated from the North Catawba River Region
Rutledge Building
This is the third year that Winthrop University has offered a two-semester undergraduate research course as part of the SEA-PHAGES (Science Education Alliance – Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science) program sponsored by the HHMI Science Education Alliance. There are thought to be approximately 1031 phage particles in existence. A mere 3000 phages have so far been isolated and characterized as part of this discovery program. During the Fall 2018 semester, students focused on isolating and identifying unique bacteriophages using Microbacterium foliorum as the bacterial host. The bacterium is present in the phyllosphere of vegetation and thrives in humid environments, growing best at 30 °C. All samples were isolated from the North Catawba River Region. Phage DNA was isolated and cut using restriction enzymes in tandem with a Phage Enzyme Tool (PET). DNA gel electrophoresis was used to display the DNA fingerprints of the individual phages; their patterns were then uploaded onto the PET program to predict the cluster of a phage. Once the individual phages were isolated, they were imaged using transmission electron microscopy to determine morphology and approximate size. Two phages with high titer lysates and unique restriction digest patterns, Rhysand and MonChoix, were sent to the University of Pittsburgh for DNA sequencing. The complete genomes were incorporated into the second part of the SEA-PHAGES research project: bioinformatics.
