The use of lytic plasmid-associated sex pilus-specific bacteriophages to drive microbial evolution towards loss of virulence
Publication Date
August 4, 2021
Creator
Abstract
Due to an increasing of antibiotic resistance prevalence, several alternatives to antibiotics have been considered, including bacteriophages. This project investigates the potential of sex pilus-specific phage MS2 to drive loss and horizontal transfer of virulence plasmids from E. coli. The study assessed new E. coli host range of phage MS2, determining the natural transfer rate of pHaemolysin, pColicin V and F plasmids, and investigating the impact of phage infection on the virulence plasmids. Phage MS2 could not infect or replicate on the E. coli strains assessed in this study. The horizontal transfer rate of the pHaemolysin and pColicin V plasmids was negligible. Expression of the F pili would be essential for phage susceptibility and bacterial conjugation. Therefore, it is essential to investigate level of the F pili expression within the virulence plasmids. In conclusion, there is a potential limitation in using F pilus-specific bacteriophage to drive loss of virulence plasmids and this we propose this is due to low level of F pili expression and phage susceptibility.
Item Type
ethesis
Thesis Type
MRes
Supervisors
Subjects (LC)
Associated Schools / Departments
School of Veterinary Medicine and Science
eprints ID
64102
UoN Repository URI
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Dissertation 20205512 MRes-first amendment.pdf
Type
Full-text
Description
Examined
Size
849.53 KB
Format
Adobe PDF
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