Phagehunting with Introductory Biology Studies

 

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 2011, Volume 32

Abstract

Viruses that infect bacteria are the most numerous biological entities on Earth. These bacteriophages (phages) are found everywhere, including the soil in campus flowerbeds, students' backyards, and local parks. By implementing this project, students can isolate novel phages, which can subsequently be purified, characterized, and used to expand our growing scientific understanding of phage genomics. This protocol is designed for the bacterial hosts Mycobacterium smegmatis and Acinetobacter baylyi, but other species could be used. Unlike many introductory level biology labs, this project can and has produced results from student experimental work worthy of inclusion in articles in the scientific literature.

Keywords:  discovery, phage, bacteriophage, Mycobacterium, Acinetobacter, phagehunting

Dalhousie University (2010)