Bacteriophage detection in the waterways and runoffs of our community
Presentation Type
Event
Full Name of Faculty Mentor
Paul Richardson
Major
Biology
Minor
Chemistry
Second Minor
Psychology
Presentation Abstract
Bacteria are an important component of our environment and play a pivotal role in nutrient recycling. One potentially controllable factor regulating environmental bacteria populations is the presence of bacteriophage (viruses that attack bacteria). The scope of this study has been to detect wild bacteriophage in the waterways and runoffs of the Coastal Carolina University campus, and to examine the environmental factors that affect their presence. Specifically, the study encompassed viruses (coliphages) that infect Escherichia coli strains B, C, and K12. Water samples were collected from different water features on campus, providing an array of environments that could potentially host the targeted phages. After recording water and ambient conditions, samples were tested for evidence of bacteriophage. When phage presence was established, further tests were performed to determine the strain of virus. All recorded data was then reviewed to ascertain what parameters influence proliferation of bacteriophage.
Course
CHEM 499
Location
Lib Jackson Student Union, Atrium
Start Date
17-4-2019 4:30 PM
End Date
17-4-2019 6:30 PM
Disciplines
Chemistry
Recommended Citation
Cortese, Chase, "Bacteriophage detection in the waterways and runoffs of our community" (2019). Undergraduate Research Competition. 9.
https://digitalcommons.coastal.edu/ugrc/2019/poster/9
Bacteriophage detection in the waterways and runoffs of our community
Lib Jackson Student Union, Atrium
Bacteria are an important component of our environment and play a pivotal role in nutrient recycling. One potentially controllable factor regulating environmental bacteria populations is the presence of bacteriophage (viruses that attack bacteria). The scope of this study has been to detect wild bacteriophage in the waterways and runoffs of the Coastal Carolina University campus, and to examine the environmental factors that affect their presence. Specifically, the study encompassed viruses (coliphages) that infect Escherichia coli strains B, C, and K12. Water samples were collected from different water features on campus, providing an array of environments that could potentially host the targeted phages. After recording water and ambient conditions, samples were tested for evidence of bacteriophage. When phage presence was established, further tests were performed to determine the strain of virus. All recorded data was then reviewed to ascertain what parameters influence proliferation of bacteriophage.