PHAGE-BACTERIA INTERACTIONS UNDER METAL STRESS: A STUDY OF THE NOVEL STENOTROPHOMONAS MALTOPHILIA PHAGE VB_STM18

Area of Science:

• Environmental Microbiology
• Applied Biotechnology
• Bacteriology

Background:

• Stenotrophomonas maltophilia exhibits resilience in metal-contaminated environments.
• Understanding microbial survival under heavy metal stress is crucial for environmental microbiology.
• Heavy metals pose significant challenges to microbial ecosystems and biotechnological applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of cadmium ions (Cd²⁺) on S. maltophilia growth dynamics.
• To assess cadmium uptake capabilities of S. maltophilia.
• To analyze the impact of Cd²⁺ on bacteriophage vB_Stm18-host interactions.

Main Methods:

• Growth curve analysis under Cd²⁺ exposure.
• Bioaccumulation assays for quantifying cadmium uptake.
• Phage adsorption efficiency and burst size measurements.

Main Results:

• S. maltophilia tolerates Cd²⁺ (0.01 g/L), with initial lag phase extension but adaptation by 18 hours.
• Significant cadmium bioaccumulation observed, reaching 1876 µg/g at 24 hours.
• Cd²⁺ exposure reduced phage vB_Stm18 burst size and adsorption efficiency, especially with prolonged exposure.

Conclusions:

• Cadmium influences S. maltophilia growth, adaptation, and cadmium sequestration.
• Cd²⁺ negatively impacts phage replication and release, affecting phage therapy efficacy.
• Findings provide insights into microbial ecology in metal-polluted habitats and inform bioremediation strategies.