SEA-PHAGES

The purpose of the SEA-PHAGES on-campus SIR is to discover new phages around the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy. To do this, soil samples are collected around the campus and then examined for phages. First, the soil samples are isolated for phage via direct or enriched isolation. This filtrate is then spread onto an agar plate combined with a host bacteria. The host bacteria is from a given list provided by the SEA-PHAGES organization. For this project, the host bacteria was strain B16540, or Gordonia Rubripertincta. The host bacteria will indicate whether or not there is a phage: if there’s phage, some of the bacteria will die. Phages were found in the soil samples taken around IMSA campus utilizing the host bacteria Gordonia Rubripertincta. In the near future, utilizing this analyzation the genome of any strain of virus or bacteria) will allow for the identification of any genome encountered in medical clinics. This specific strain of bacteria is important because they are able to degrade hydrocarbons. Not only that, this bacterium can reduce nitrate in the absence of mycelium and can degrade environmental pollutants, xenobiotics, and other natural compounds that are not readily biodegradable.