Environmental Bacteriophage Detection on Coastal Carolina University Campus

Authors

Madison Gentilo, Department of Biology, Coastal Carolina University, Conway, SC
Hailey Oldfield, Department of Marine Science, Coastal Carolina University, Conway, SC
Gavin Ockert, Scholars Academy High School, Conway, SC
Paul E. Richardson, Department of Chemistry, Coastal Carolina University, Conway, SC

Abstract

Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria. These viruses are found ubiquitously in the environment and are more abundant than any living organism on Earth, including bacteria. Eleven sites are designated for weekly sample collection on the campus of Coastal Carolina University. Water samples are filtered and amplified using strains of E. coli B and E. coli K12 to allow potential coliphages in the sample to proliferate to detectable levels. Plaque assays are used as a microbial screen for the presence of bacteriophage. Samples that test positively using the microbial test are analyzed through a molecular test using PCR to identify the viral families and identify the coliphage. The results of this study illustrate the presence of bacteriophage on Coastal Carolina’s campus and the identification of at least one of the desired viral families.The purpose of this study was to utilize bacteriophage as an environmental indicator of the presence of harmful bacteria in waterways on the campus of Coastal Carolina University and to identify bacteriophage that could be used to control bacterial blooms.

Recommended Citation

Gentilo, Madison; Oldfield, Hailey; Ockert, Gavin; and Richardson, Paul E. (2022) "Environmental Bacteriophage Detection on Coastal Carolina University Campus," Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science: Vol. 20: Iss. 2, Article 4.
Available at: https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/jscas/vol20/iss2/4