XXII. BIOCHEMICKÝ ZJAZD - Jesseniova lekárska fakulta

Posters
18.
CHaraCTERIZATION OF BACTERIOPHAGES INFECTING
SALMoneLLA enTerICA
Ľubomíra Tóthová, Hind Al Alami, Jana Lintnerová, Hana Drahovská and Ján Turňa
Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University,
Bratislava, Slovakia
Food-borne infections caused by Salmonella enterica represent a major healthcare concern
worldwide. Bacteriophages are viruses infecting specifically bacteria. With regard
to their characteristics, they can be considered as a potential antibacterial agents. In
these applications bacteriophages are suitable to prevent or reduce colonization and
diseases in livestock, to decontaminate carcasses and other raw products, to disinfect
equipment and contact surfaces, etc.
The aim of our study was to isolate bacteriophages infecting Salmonella, which can be
used for elimination of these pathogenic bacteria in food technology. Bacteriophages
were isolated from wastewater samples of three Bratislava wastewater treatment
plants (Petržalka, Vrakuňa and DevínskaNováVes) by propagating on indicator strains.
Six bacteriophages infecting Salmonella were isolated and used for further investigation.
We have determined the host specificity of bacteriophages on the collection of 16
strains belonging to different salmonella serotypes. Two different testing methods, the
cross test and the colorimetric microplate test, were used rendering similar results.
We have observed, that bacteriophages were able to infect 4-14 indicator strains and
that all strains were sensitive to at least one bacteriophage. The chromosomal DNA of
bacteriophages was isolated and characterized by restriction cleavadge. We observed
different restriction profiles for each phage.
XXII. Biochemistry Congress, Martin
133