Virulent Visions: The Discovery of RcECarb, RcFlash, and RcLuke
Major
Biology
Submission Type
Poster
Area of Study or Work
Biology
Faculty Advisor
Richard Alvey
Location
CNS Atrium
Start Date
4-13-2024 8:30 AM
End Date
4-13-2024 9:45 AM
Abstract
Bacteriophages are the most abundant organisms on the planet with an estimated population of 10^31 phages worldwide. They are viruses that infect bacteria and their application in biological research has proven to be novel, yet while they are so abundant, their genetic potential still remains largely untapped. SEA-PHAGES gives college undergraduate students the opportunity to isolate and analyze their own unique phages in hopes of finding new genetic secrets intertwined within phage genomes. In gaining a deeper knowledge of phages, they get to join fellow researchers over the past 100 years in answering the question: how can phages be utilized in understanding phage diversity, biology, and medicine? Throughout the past academic year at Illinois Wesleyan, six phages were found that infect Rhodobacter capsulatus, a specific bacterial strain found in aquatic environments. Environmental samples were collected from different bodies of water across the state to capture these phages. After isolation, plaque morphologies, lysogenic ability, host- range, and Transition Electron Microscopy (TEM) images of the phages were examined in order to characterize them. Of the six R. capsulatus phages, we surmised that our three were part of the RcD cluster based on average capsid and tail diameters analyzed from their TEMs and this was confirmed with DNA sequencing. Approximately half of the IWU phages are in this cluster and this years additions were: RcEcarb, RcFlash, and RcLuke. Of these RcEcarb is unique amongst all other RcD phages in that it has a gene interruption by an HNH endonuclease. Our findings will lead to a better understanding of phage diversity and help future phage researchers on the same path. With further research, these viruses could even be used to combat bacterial infections in humans giving them the potential to save lives.
Virulent Visions: The Discovery of RcECarb, RcFlash, and RcLuke
CNS Atrium
Bacteriophages are the most abundant organisms on the planet with an estimated population of 10^31 phages worldwide. They are viruses that infect bacteria and their application in biological research has proven to be novel, yet while they are so abundant, their genetic potential still remains largely untapped. SEA-PHAGES gives college undergraduate students the opportunity to isolate and analyze their own unique phages in hopes of finding new genetic secrets intertwined within phage genomes. In gaining a deeper knowledge of phages, they get to join fellow researchers over the past 100 years in answering the question: how can phages be utilized in understanding phage diversity, biology, and medicine? Throughout the past academic year at Illinois Wesleyan, six phages were found that infect Rhodobacter capsulatus, a specific bacterial strain found in aquatic environments. Environmental samples were collected from different bodies of water across the state to capture these phages. After isolation, plaque morphologies, lysogenic ability, host- range, and Transition Electron Microscopy (TEM) images of the phages were examined in order to characterize them. Of the six R. capsulatus phages, we surmised that our three were part of the RcD cluster based on average capsid and tail diameters analyzed from their TEMs and this was confirmed with DNA sequencing. Approximately half of the IWU phages are in this cluster and this years additions were: RcEcarb, RcFlash, and RcLuke. Of these RcEcarb is unique amongst all other RcD phages in that it has a gene interruption by an HNH endonuclease. Our findings will lead to a better understanding of phage diversity and help future phage researchers on the same path. With further research, these viruses could even be used to combat bacterial infections in humans giving them the potential to save lives.