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Related Concept Videos

DNA Bacteriophages01:26

DNA Bacteriophages

Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that specifically infect bacteria, utilizing their genetic material to hijack host cellular machinery for replication. DNA bacteriophages employ single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) or double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) genomes. These phages exhibit diverse replication strategies and host interactions, influencing their ecological roles and applications in biotechnology and medicine.ssDNA BacteriophagesssDNA phages, with their small genomes, utilize unique strategies to...
Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages01:30

Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages

Bacteriophages, also known as phages, are specialized viruses that infect bacteria. A key characteristic of phages is their distinctive “head-tail” morphology. A phage begins the infection process (i.e., lytic cycle) by attaching to the outside of a bacterial cell. Attachment is accomplished via proteins in the phage tail that bind to specific receptor proteins on the outer surface of the bacterium. The tail injects the phage’s DNA genome into the bacterial cytoplasm. In the lytic replication...
Biological Methods for Microbial Control01:28

Biological Methods for Microbial Control

Biological agents offer an effective means of controlling microbial growth by leveraging natural processes like predation, competition, and the secretion of antimicrobial substances.Predatory bacteria such as Bdellovibrio species target and kill pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli. They are widely used in poultry farms to control infections. Myxococcus species help combat plant-pathogenic fungi. These naturally occurring predators serve as eco-friendly alternatives to chemical pesticides and...
Biofilms01:29

Biofilms

Biofilms are complex communities of microorganisms encased in a self-produced extracellular polysaccharide matrix attached to surfaces. These microbial consortia can include single or multiple species, providing enhanced survival benefits by forming organized, multilayered structures.The formation of biofilms occurs through four key stages: attachment, colonization, development, and dispersal.During attachment, free-swimming planktonic cells adhere to a surface, often facilitated by...
Viral Replication: Lytic Cycle01:20

Viral Replication: Lytic Cycle

Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that specifically infect bacteria. Among them, T-even bacteriophages, such as T4, exhibit a well-characterized lytic replication cycle in Escherichia coli (E. coli). This process ensures the rapid proliferation of the virus while ultimately leading to the destruction of the bacterial host.Attachment and DNA InjectionThe infection process begins with the recognition and binding of the T4 phage to the E. coli cell surface. Tail fibers of the phage...
Bacteriophages of the Human Virome01:23

Bacteriophages of the Human Virome

Bacteriophages are found throughout the human body. They may even outnumber eukaryotic viruses, forming an important and dynamic component of the human virome. Indeed, phages represent the most abundant viral entities, with densities in the gut reaching up to 10⁹ particles per gram of fecal matter, and many belonging to orders such as Caudovirales and Microviridae, while a substantial proportion remains unclassified as viral “dark matter.”Lysogeny and Genetic ExchangeIn the gut, bacteriophages...

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Anti-virulent Disruption of Pathogenic Biofilms using Engineered Quorum-quenching Lactonases
07:47

Anti-virulent Disruption of Pathogenic Biofilms using Engineered Quorum-quenching Lactonases

Published on: January 1, 2016

Dispersing biofilms with engineered enzymatic bacteriophage.

Timothy K Lu1, James J Collins

  • 1Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Room E25-519, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|June 27, 2007
PubMed
Summary

Synthetic biology engineered bacteriophage to degrade bacterial biofilms. This enzymatic phage treatment was significantly more effective than non-enzymatic methods for biofilm removal.

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Published on: August 19, 2021

Area of Science:

  • Synthetic biology
  • Microbiology
  • Biotechnology

Background:

  • Bacterial biofilms are problematic in infections due to antimicrobial resistance.
  • Biofilms are difficult to eradicate using conventional treatments.
  • Phage therapy offers a potential alternative for combating bacterial infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To engineer bacteriophage to express biofilm-degrading enzymes.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of engineered enzymatic bacteriophage in removing bacterial biofilms.
  • To demonstrate the application of synthetic biology in addressing biofilm-related challenges.

Main Methods:

  • Engineering bacteriophage to express biofilm-degrading enzymes.
  • Treating bacterial biofilms with engineered enzymatic bacteriophage.
  • Comparing the efficacy of enzymatic and non-enzymatic bacteriophage treatments.
  • Quantifying bacterial biofilm cell count reduction.

Main Results:

  • Engineered enzymatic bacteriophage significantly enhanced biofilm removal efficacy.
  • A 4.5-log order reduction (99.997%) in bacterial biofilm cell counts was achieved.
  • Enzymatic phage treatment was approximately two orders of magnitude more effective than non-enzymatic phage.

Conclusions:

  • Engineered enzymatic bacteriophage represent a feasible and beneficial strategy for bacterial biofilm reduction.
  • Synthetic biology approaches can provide effective solutions for medical and industrial problems.
  • This study highlights the potential of dual-action phage therapy against biofilms.