A practical low-cost course module for teaching bacteriophage isolation to undergraduate students

Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria and have gained attention as promising tools against antimicrobial-resistant pathogens. Despite their relevance, phage biology remains underrepresented in undergraduate curricula. This study describes a low-cost course designed to introduce students to fundamental virology concepts through hands-on phage isolation, characterization, and genome analysis. Participants collected environmental water samples, performed phage enrichment, and detected viral plaques using the double-layer agar technique. The course also incorporated web-based bioinformatics activities using BLASTN and PhageScope, enabling students to explore genome size, GC content, gene annotation, and taxonomy without the need for coding knowledge or powerful computers. These activities strengthened the integration between laboratory and computational virology. Students had access to key concepts such as viral diversity, lytic cycles, biosafety, host specificity, and plaque quantification. This accessible educational model promotes active learning, democratizes access to virology training, and helps prepare future professionals for research in bacteriophage biology and phage therapy.