Related Experiment Videos
Isolation and characterization of a temperate bacteriophage from a ruminal acetogen
W H Jiang1, J A Patterson, L R Steenson
1Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
Current Microbiology
|December 1, 1995
Summary
Researchers investigated phage susceptibility in bovine rumen acetogenic bacteria. One isolate, H3HH, showed a significant lysogenic response to mitomycin C, leading to bacteriophage characterization.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Bacteriology
- Virology
Background:
- Acetogenic bacteria are crucial in ruminant digestion.
- Understanding bacteriophage interactions is vital for microbial ecology.
- Rumen acetogens represent a largely uncharacterized microbial group.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess phage susceptibility in newly isolated bovine rumen acetogenic bacteria.
- To characterize a bacteriophage induced from a lysogenic acetogenic strain.
Main Methods:
- Plaque assays were performed on nine acetogenic isolates.
- Mitomycin C induction was used to trigger prophage activity.
- Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was employed for phage morphology.
- DNA analysis determined the bacteriophage's genetic material.
Main Results:
- Five of nine acetogenic isolates responded to mitomycin C induction.
- Acetogenic isolate H3HH exhibited the highest lysogenic response.
- TEM revealed a bacteriophage with specific head, tail, and collar dimensions.
- The bacteriophage DNA was identified as 36.2 kilobases of linear double-stranded DNA, classifying it in Bradley's group B.
Conclusions:
- Bovine rumen acetogens can harbor temperate bacteriophages.
- Mitomycin C is effective in inducing prophages from these bacteria.
- The characterized bacteriophage provides insights into rumen virome diversity.