2022 Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) Symposium
Location
ScholarSpace, Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation (UNI Access Only)
Document Type
poster
Keywords
Bacteriophages--Therapeutic use; Bacillus anthracis; Bacillus cereus;
Abstract
Bacteriophages (‘phages’) are viruses that parasitize (and often kill) specific bacteria, including the common soil inhabitants Bacillus cereus and B. anthracis. B. anthracis can cause anthrax, a deadly disease of cattle that has been used as a bio-terror weapon. Our lab examines phages with potential as therapeutics or protectants against B. anthracis, for which we use the ‘Safe’ vaccine strain, B. anthracis Sterne. Practical applications include ‘phage therapy’, where phages work against bacterial diseases. Phages suitable for any therapy or protection need to display physical stability under a wide variety of storage, transport and application conditions. Our previous student, Alexis Moore (‘AJM-2021’) successfully selected a group of B. cereus soil phages that with stood exposure to higher temperatures, filtration, aerosolization and exposure to ultraviolet light, blood & perspiration, and sunlight. We now continue that work by characterizing genome and structural proteins of selected & non-selected phages.
Start Date
29-7-2022 11:00 AM
End Date
29-7-2022 1:30 PM
Event Host
Summer Undergraduate Research Program, University of Northern Iowa
Faculty Advisor
Michael H. Walter
Department
Department of Biology
Copyright
©2022 Walderlande Nicolas and Michael H. Walter
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Bacillus cereus; Bacillus anthracis; Bacteriophages--Therapeutic use;
Characterizing Selected, Durable Bacillus Cereus/Anthracis Bacteriophages
ScholarSpace, Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa
Bacteriophages (‘phages’) are viruses that parasitize (and often kill) specific bacteria, including the common soil inhabitants Bacillus cereus and B. anthracis. B. anthracis can cause anthrax, a deadly disease of cattle that has been used as a bio-terror weapon. Our lab examines phages with potential as therapeutics or protectants against B. anthracis, for which we use the ‘Safe’ vaccine strain, B. anthracis Sterne. Practical applications include ‘phage therapy’, where phages work against bacterial diseases. Phages suitable for any therapy or protection need to display physical stability under a wide variety of storage, transport and application conditions. Our previous student, Alexis Moore (‘AJM-2021’) successfully selected a group of B. cereus soil phages that with stood exposure to higher temperatures, filtration, aerosolization and exposure to ultraviolet light, blood & perspiration, and sunlight. We now continue that work by characterizing genome and structural proteins of selected & non-selected phages.
Comments
The Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation