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Partial characterization of coliphage WPK and a comparison with coliphage T3
1Department of Zoological and Biomedical Sciences, Ohio University, Athens 45701.
Microbiology and Immunology
|January 1, 1992
Summary
Coliphage WPK, isolated from sewage, shows distinct characteristics from phage T3 despite a similar host range. This research highlights WPK
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Coliphage WPK was isolated from sewage due to its unusual plaque expansion.
- Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria and are crucial in microbial ecology and biotechnology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize coliphage WPK and compare it to the related phage T3.
- To determine the distinct properties of phage WPK, including morphology, host range, and genetic makeup.
Main Methods:
- Electron microscopy for morphological analysis.
- Host range testing on various bacterial strains.
- Isopycnic density gradient centrifugation to determine buoyant density.
- SDS-PAGE and autoradiography to analyze phage-encoded proteins.
Main Results:
- Phage WPK has an isometric capsid (54 nm) and a short tail (16 nm), placing it in morphogroup C1.
- Phage WPK and T3 share an identical host range, infecting specific E. coli strains and some Enterobacteriaceae.
- Phage WPK plaques exhibit prolonged expansion on multiple E. coli strains, differing from T3.
- Buoyant density and protein profiles indicate significant differences between WPK and T3, with only 14 shared proteins.
Conclusions:
- Coliphage WPK is a distinct phage, although related to phage T3.
- The observed differences in plaque expansion, buoyant density, and protein composition support WPK's unique identity.