Identification And Characterisation Of Coliphages From Seawater In Batu Ferringhi, Penang

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Date
2018-03
Authors
Lai, Ching Wee
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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.
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Keywords
Identification and characterisation of coliphages , from seawater in Batu Ferringhi, Penang
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