Isolation and characterisation of a lytic bacteriophage from wastewater and its application in pathogen reduction

Abstract

Present work was performed to isolate, enrich and characterise bacteriophage using basic laboratory set-up, and to demonstrate their lytic potential in pathogen reduction. Following standard microbiological and molecular biological procedures, we examined cultivable bacteria and bacteriophages in wastewater sample. Subsequently, from cultures of wastewater sample, we isolated and characterised bacterial isolate, which was then used to enrich lytic bacteriophages, using a combination of double layer plaque-assay, isolation and genetic techniques to isolate bacteriophage against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Subsequently decontamination capability of this phage was assessed in form of spray and matrix adsorbed formulations. Storage stability of phage preparations at different temperatures was also studied by calculating reduction in phage titer. Present studies demonstrate lytic potential of phage as an eco-friendly alternative to conventional control approaches against bacterial contamination.