The Discovery and Characterization of Novel Bacteriophages Infecting Marine Bacterial Hosts
Major
Biology
Submission Type
Poster
Area of Study or Work
Biology
Expected Graduation Date
2025
Location
CNS Atrium, Easel 10
Start Date
4-15-2023 10:30 AM
End Date
4-15-2023 11:45 AM
Abstract
Bacteriophages are viruses that reproduce only when in the presence of a bacterial species susceptible to them. In the field of bacteriophage discovery, it is common practice to attempt isolations from fresh water or soil samples. However, there is a pronounced decline in the quantity of accessible data on sea water sample isolations. Currently, there is relatively little to no known information about bacteriophages that infect marine hosts related to the freshwater host Rhodobacter capsulatus. In recent years, researchers at Illinois Wesleyan University have amassed a collection of over 50 isolates capable of infecting the freshwater bacterium, R. capsulatus. The purpose of this research: to explore the largely under-studied universe of bacteriophages by discovering and isolating viruses that infect the marine bacterial strains Phaeobacter inhibens, Ruegeria pomeroyi, and Dinoroseobacter shibae. Three such bacteriophages were discovered; two that infect P. inhibens and one that infects D. shibae. Further testing determined if these bacteriophages are able to infect more than one species of bacteria previously listed, and a comparative analysis of genome sequences was conducted to determine the relation between previously found fresh water bacteriophages and the newly discovered marine bacteriophages. The results of these experiments combined with genomic analysis provides an insight into the world of marine bacteriophages and the evolution of viruses more broadly. In addition, this research may also contribute to the conceptualization of marine ecosystems as well as enhance the growing collection of bacteriophages that have potential use in bacterial infection treatment methods.
The Discovery and Characterization of Novel Bacteriophages Infecting Marine Bacterial Hosts
CNS Atrium, Easel 10
Bacteriophages are viruses that reproduce only when in the presence of a bacterial species susceptible to them. In the field of bacteriophage discovery, it is common practice to attempt isolations from fresh water or soil samples. However, there is a pronounced decline in the quantity of accessible data on sea water sample isolations. Currently, there is relatively little to no known information about bacteriophages that infect marine hosts related to the freshwater host Rhodobacter capsulatus. In recent years, researchers at Illinois Wesleyan University have amassed a collection of over 50 isolates capable of infecting the freshwater bacterium, R. capsulatus. The purpose of this research: to explore the largely under-studied universe of bacteriophages by discovering and isolating viruses that infect the marine bacterial strains Phaeobacter inhibens, Ruegeria pomeroyi, and Dinoroseobacter shibae. Three such bacteriophages were discovered; two that infect P. inhibens and one that infects D. shibae. Further testing determined if these bacteriophages are able to infect more than one species of bacteria previously listed, and a comparative analysis of genome sequences was conducted to determine the relation between previously found fresh water bacteriophages and the newly discovered marine bacteriophages. The results of these experiments combined with genomic analysis provides an insight into the world of marine bacteriophages and the evolution of viruses more broadly. In addition, this research may also contribute to the conceptualization of marine ecosystems as well as enhance the growing collection of bacteriophages that have potential use in bacterial infection treatment methods.