Testing lysogeny and phage resistance in mesa-derived bacteria arthrobacter sp.
Presentation Type
Abstract
Faculty Advisor
Quinn Vega
Access Type
Event
Start Date
25-4-2025 12:00 PM
End Date
25-4-2025 1:00 PM
Description
Bacteriophages are viruses capable of infecting and replicating within bacterial hosts. Lysogenic bacteriophages integrate their genetic material into the bacterial genome, existing as prophages. Upon incorporation of the phage, certain bacteria form mesas, characterized by a visible ring of bacterial cells surrounding a clear zone where cells have been killed by the virus. This study aims to determine whether bacteria isolated from mesas are lysogens and evaluate how lysogeny affects bacterial resistance to further phage infections in Arthrobacter. Mesas were identified on an Arthrobacter plate infected with Inked phage, a phage previously isolated at MSU. Bacteria from these mesas were isolated using a discontinuous streaking method. Potential lysogens were chosen based on colony growth, and then tested to see if they spontaneously released phage. The supernatants from these bacterial cultures were placed onto plates covered with a bacterial lawn to test the natural release of phages. Serial dilutions of these samples were used to measure the amount of phage being produced. Additionally, potential Arthrobacter lysogens were tested for resistance to superinfection using other previously isolated phages. Preliminary results indicate evidence of phage presence capable of infecting Arthrobacter but not, at present, the Arthrobacter lysogen containing the Inked prophage. There has been one potential lysogen-like spot that was identified on Inked cultures, but its lysogenic nature is not yet confirmed. Further testing through PCR amplification targeting phage attachment sites will clarify the presence of the Inked prophage in the Arthrobacter lysogen.
Testing lysogeny and phage resistance in mesa-derived bacteria arthrobacter sp.
Bacteriophages are viruses capable of infecting and replicating within bacterial hosts. Lysogenic bacteriophages integrate their genetic material into the bacterial genome, existing as prophages. Upon incorporation of the phage, certain bacteria form mesas, characterized by a visible ring of bacterial cells surrounding a clear zone where cells have been killed by the virus. This study aims to determine whether bacteria isolated from mesas are lysogens and evaluate how lysogeny affects bacterial resistance to further phage infections in Arthrobacter. Mesas were identified on an Arthrobacter plate infected with Inked phage, a phage previously isolated at MSU. Bacteria from these mesas were isolated using a discontinuous streaking method. Potential lysogens were chosen based on colony growth, and then tested to see if they spontaneously released phage. The supernatants from these bacterial cultures were placed onto plates covered with a bacterial lawn to test the natural release of phages. Serial dilutions of these samples were used to measure the amount of phage being produced. Additionally, potential Arthrobacter lysogens were tested for resistance to superinfection using other previously isolated phages. Preliminary results indicate evidence of phage presence capable of infecting Arthrobacter but not, at present, the Arthrobacter lysogen containing the Inked prophage. There has been one potential lysogen-like spot that was identified on Inked cultures, but its lysogenic nature is not yet confirmed. Further testing through PCR amplification targeting phage attachment sites will clarify the presence of the Inked prophage in the Arthrobacter lysogen.
Comments
Poster presentation at the 2025 Student Research Symposium.