Identification And Characterisation Of Coliphages From Seawater In Batu Ferringhi, Penang
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Date
2018-03
Authors
Lai, Ching Wee
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
Pathogenic microorganisms in polluted recreational seawater would be
harmful to beachgoers and marine lives. Coliphages are recognised as bioindicator
for the presence of human viruses in water quality monitoring. Thus, the purpose of
this study was to survey the phage diversity in the polluted seawater in Batu
Ferringhi and to study the characteristics of the isolated phages. The morphology of
five isolated phages was determined through transmission electron microscopy
visualisation. Three isolated coliphages that infected E. coli ATCC 11303 were
suggested belonged to Myoviridae, whereas two coliphages which specific to E. coli
ATCC 13706 were of Microviridae. The Microviridae phages namely K3 and K5
were characterised by host range and protein analysis. Based on the findings of
protein analysis, phages K3 and K5 were assumed the same strain of viruses. Thus,
the study was focused on phage K5 for physicochemical and genomic
characterisation as well as phage life cycle. Phages K3 and K5 showed strictly
specific to the host, E coli ATCC 13706. The protein profiles of phages K3 and K5
showed similar patterns. The profiles indicated that the phages were belonged to
Microviridae but they were not identical to phage ØX174. Phage K5 was infectious
in pH condition between pH 6 and 10. It lost infectious ability in extremely acidic
(pH 1 to 3) and alkaline (pH 12) conditions. In addition, it could tolerate at high
concentration of saline, where the phage titres demonstrated slight fluctuations but
decreased slowly throughout 0% (w/v) to 20% (w/v) of NaCl. The optimum
infectivity occurred at 1% of NaCl. However, phage titre decreased 3% in the
absence of NaCl. Meanwhile, phage K5 was infectious upon exposure to temperature
between 10°C and 44.5°C.
Description
Keywords
Identification and characterisation of coliphages , from seawater in Batu Ferringhi, Penang