Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 18, 2026

'Bioluminescent' Reporter Phage for the Detection of Category A Bacterial Pathogens
11:31

'Bioluminescent' Reporter Phage for the Detection of Category A Bacterial Pathogens

Published on: July 8, 2011

14.1K

[Isolation and biological characteristics on Yersinia pestis phage YP060]

C X Li1, P Wang2, X N Shen3

  • 1State Key Laboratory for Communicable Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China; Graduate School, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China; Department of Plague Control and Prevention, Qinghai Institute for Endemic Disease Control and Prevention, Xining 811602, China.

Zhonghua Liu Xing Bing Xue Za Zhi = Zhonghua Liuxingbingxue Zazhi
|June 28, 2016
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Researchers isolated Yersinia pestis phage YP060 from a Yunnan plague focus. This phage exhibits strong lysis activity against Yersinia pestis, offering potential for plague control strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Virology
  • Bacteriology

Background:

  • The bacterium Yersinia pestis causes plague, a serious infectious disease.
  • Natural plague foci, like those in Yunnan, China, harbor various microorganisms, including potential therapeutic agents.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To isolate and characterize a novel Yersinia pestis bacteriophage, designated YP060.
  • To evaluate the biological properties and lytic capabilities of YP060 for potential applications.

Main Methods:

  • Isolation of YP060 using the double-layer agar plate method with Yersinia pestis strain EV76.
  • Electron microscopy for particle visualization.
  • Assessment of biological properties: lytic capacity, host spectrum, optimal MOI, growth curve, and sensitivity to environmental factors (temperature, pH, UV, chloroform).

Main Results:

  • Phage YP060 possesses tadpole-like morphology.
  • Optimal multiplicity of infection (MOI) was determined to be 0.1.
  • The phage demonstrated a latent period of 50 minutes and a burst period of 80 minutes.
  • YP060 showed stability between 30-50°C and strong lysis activity across a pH range of 5-10.
  • The phage was sensitive to UV radiation but resistant to chloroform.
  • YP060 displayed specific lysis against Yersinia pestis.

Conclusions:

  • Yersinia pestis phage YP060 was successfully isolated from a natural plague focus in China.
  • The phage exhibits a narrow host spectrum but potent lysis activity against Yersinia pestis.
  • These characteristics suggest YP060 as a candidate for phage therapy against plague.

More Related Videos

Quantifying Yersinia pseudotuberculosis Type III Secretion System Activity Following Iron Starvation and Anaerobic Growth08:36

Quantifying Yersinia pseudotuberculosis Type III Secretion System Activity Following Iron Starvation and Anaerobic Growth

Published on: May 31, 2024

1000
Phage-Mediated Genetic Manipulation of the Lyme Disease Spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi09:01

Phage-Mediated Genetic Manipulation of the Lyme Disease Spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi

Published on: September 28, 2022

2.8K

Related Concept Videos

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...
79.6K
Viral Replication: Lysogenic Cycle01:16

Viral Replication: Lysogenic Cycle

The lysogenic cycle is a crucial viral replication strategy that allows bacteriophages to persist within host cells without immediately destroying them. This process is primarily observed in temperate phages, such as bacteriophage lambda (λ), which infects Escherichia coli. The cycle allows the viral genome to persist across bacterial generations while keeping host cells viable.Integration of the Viral GenomeUpon infection, bacteriophage lambda attaches to the bacterial surface and injects...
2.2K
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...
1.3K
Lysogenic Cycle of Bacteriophages00:43

Lysogenic Cycle of Bacteriophages

In contrast to the lytic cycle, phages infecting bacteria via the lysogenic cycle do not immediately kill their host cell. Instead, they combine their genome with the host genome, allowing the bacteria to replicate the phage DNA along with the bacterial genome. The incorporated copy of the phage genome is called the prophage. Some prophages can re-activate and enter the lytic cycle. This often occurs in response to a perturbation, such as DNA damage, but can also transpire in the absence of...
69.2K
Bacterial Phylum Tenericutes01:24

Bacterial Phylum Tenericutes

The phylum Tenericutes, which includes the single class Mollicutes, comprises bacteria that lack cell walls. The term "Mollicutes" derives from the Latin word mollis, meaning "soft." These organisms are among the smallest known and are commonly referred to as mycoplasmas due to the prominence of the genus Mycoplasma, which includes well-known human pathogens. Despite their inability to stain gram-positively (a result of their lack of cell walls), mycoplasmas are phylogenetically related to the...
574
Regulation of Bacterial Virulence01:28

Regulation of Bacterial Virulence

Pathogenic bacteria employ a range of regulatory mechanisms to modulate the expression of virulence genes in response to environmental and host-derived signals. These mechanisms ensure that virulence factors are expressed only under favorable conditions, thereby optimizing infection and survival strategies.Mechanisms of Virulence RegulationKey regulatory strategies include:Two-Component Systems: These consist of a membrane-bound sensor kinase and a cytoplasmic response regulator. Environmental...
3