@Riya Calton-Fulkerson: In the original soil sample, there were likely hundreds of different phages. The multiple plates were used in an attempt to first isolate a singular phage type and then to achieve a web pattern plate. The first plate is the results of the plaque assay experiment and is convoluted with various phage types. The second and third plates are plaque streak experiments and were used to isolate a single phage. The plaque streak was done twice to ensure that only one phage type will be used in the subsequent experiments. The final plate is the results of our titer assay experiment. We consistently had no yield and wanted to display this data in the presentation.
@Kate Noyes: Because we were unable to characterize the phage (the titer assay experiment failed over 10 times), our next steps would be to obtain a web pattern plate, flood it and calculate the titer. At this point we would really begin to learn a lot more information about the phage via DNA isolation, gel electrophoresis, restriction digest and other similar experiments.
@Sarina Borden: There are a litany of possible ways to avoid a foreign body response. One of the options that we discussed was ‘disguising’ the phage in proteins that the body will recognize as ‘self’ rather than other.
What is the difference between the plates and why would you create differences between the plates?
@Riya Calton-Fulkerson: In the original soil sample, there were likely hundreds of different phages. The multiple plates were used in an attempt to first isolate a singular phage type and then to achieve a web pattern plate. The first plate is the results of the plaque assay experiment and is convoluted with various phage types. The second and third plates are plaque streak experiments and were used to isolate a single phage. The plaque streak was done twice to ensure that only one phage type will be used in the subsequent experiments. The final plate is the results of our titer assay experiment. We consistently had no yield and wanted to display this data in the presentation.
What kind of experiments would be done next for this phage and what else do you need to find out about it?
@Kate Noyes: Because we were unable to characterize the phage (the titer assay experiment failed over 10 times), our next steps would be to obtain a web pattern plate, flood it and calculate the titer. At this point we would really begin to learn a lot more information about the phage via DNA isolation, gel electrophoresis, restriction digest and other similar experiments.
How would you target the phage to fight certain bacterial cells in order to avoid it harming normal cells if it was used in place of an antibiotic?
@Sarina Borden: There are a litany of possible ways to avoid a foreign body response. One of the options that we discussed was ‘disguising’ the phage in proteins that the body will recognize as ‘self’ rather than other.