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Bacteriophages are viruses, whose unique ability to infect and lyse bacterial cells may provide valuable insight for evading the repercussions of a post-antibiotic era in medicine. This study isolated and characterized Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteriophage on students and faculty at Coastal Carolina University as a means to understand the viability of human bacteriophage reservoirs for bacteriophage therapy. From September 2021 to March 2022, nasal and postauricular swab samples and a behavioral survey were collected from ninety-three randomly selected participants. Additionally, sixteen participants contributed nasal and postauricular swab samples and a behavioral survey on a monthly basis in a longitudinal study. The purpose of this study was to establish insight into behavioral factors, namely face mask wearing, handwashing/sanitizing, and perceived stress levels, that potentially contribute to the E. coli and S. aureus bacteriophage dynamics. During the current collection cycle, 2021-2022, there has been a reemergence of bacteriophage since their disappearance the previous collection year. Results indicate participant engagement in mask wearing or handwashing/sanitizing does not affect coliphage presence, but participants with coliphage presence generally had lower perceived stress levels than those lacking coliphage. Data was limited and correlations could not be made between S. aureus bacteriophage presence and the aforementioned behavioral factors. However, limited data suggests face mask wearing may be correlated to a lack of S. aureus bacteriophage presence on a host. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection that accounts for approximately 5% of all cancers worldwide and affects more than 80 million people in the United States (US) alone, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and National Cancer Institute (NCI). Human papillomaviruses are small, nonenveloped, icosahedral DNA viruses that infect squamous epithelial cells. The viral particles consist of a single double stranded DNA molecule bound to histones and contained within a protein capsid composed of structural proteins late (L)1 and L2. To date, over 100 different genotypes of HPV have been identified, and approximately 15 types are considered oncogenic in cervical, vulvar, vaginal, anal, penile squamous epithelia, and more recently, in head and neck squamous cells. This study aimed to develop an experimental methodology that will allow for the safe and effectual detection of HPV among members of Coastal Carolina University (CCU) campus. Genomic isolation techniques were developed for the purpose of generating inactive, noninfectious viral particles, while preserving their genomic fingerprint for future characterization. Bacteriophage T4 are highly robust viral particles that are found naturally in the external environment, serving as a model virus for the initial establishment of safe and effectual isolation techniques. Consensus primers were identified for a PCR-based HPV detection assay, targeting the conserved L1 and E6/E7 ORF (Open Reading Frame) regions of the HPV genome. The developed methodology provided effective and reproducible viral characterization, enabling the future applications of these techniques to be applied for the detection of HPV amongst members of the Coastal Carolina community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this research is to detect naturally occurring, lytic bacteriophages and identify the environmental factors that influence their presence on Coastal Carolina University's campus. Bacteriophages are non-living viruses that only infect bacteria, and these viruses are found in abundance in every environment. Likewise, coliphages are viruses that exclusively infect coliform bacteria. Eleven treated and untreated freshwater sample sites were chosen for weekly sampling on CCU's campus. During water sample collection, ambient environmental conditions were measured. In addition, precipitation was tracked over the collection period as runoff relates to the proliferation of bacteriophages. If plaque assays indicated the presence of lytic bacteriophages or were "non-determinant," then the environmental samples underwent PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) identification. Over the collection period, coliphages were detected on CCU's campus and identified based on their genomic material. With the collected precipitation data and observed positive results, the correlation between environmental factors and the presence of bacteriophages on campus was determined, too. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been understood that the presence of coliphages (bacteriophages specific for E. coli) in water is an indirect measurement of fecal contamination. Bacteriophages have been suggested to hold an important role in regulating the bacterial population. This pilot study analyzes the relationship between the presence of coliphages in the water in the aviary at Brookgreen Gardens and how environmental factors such as temperature, pH, and turbidity affect the presence of these viruses over the time period of three months (June 2017 through August 2017). Coliphages found in volary water sources were speculated to be deposited directly by birds that live in the Brookgreen Gardens aviary. These birds remain in an enclosed area, thus making the location a reservoir potentially rich in bacteriophage number and diversity. Plaque assays were conducted to look for the presence of the coliphages. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis was conducted on all samples collected in order to characterize any possible coliphages identified via plaque assays. The results gathered from both microbial (plaque assay) and molecular (PCR) methods varied immensely, with numerous positive results found at each site for each week of analysis over the three-month period. All PCR tests conducted on samples were deemed negative for coliphage presence, indicating that these coliphages are especially unique or may be RNA-based. These findings confirm that there are indeed bacteriophages present in the Brookgreen Gardens aviary, and that pH, turbidity, and temperature did not appear to play a prominent role in the presence of the coliphages. The location in the aviary which yielded the most positive results (Site 1) was the site at which the birds were most frequently observed defecating, providing indirect evidence that the fecal matter of the birds is the most important factor in bacteriophage presence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria. These viruses are found ubiquitously in the environment and are more abundant than any living organism on Earth, including bacteria. Eleven sites are designated for weekly sample collection on the campus of Coastal Carolina University. Water samples are filtered and amplified using strains of E. coli B and E. coli K12 to allow potential coliphages in the sample to proliferate to detectable levels. Plaque assays are used as a microbial screen for the presence of bacteriophage. Samples that test positively using the microbial test are analyzed through a molecular test using PCR to identify the viral families and identify the coliphage. The results of this study illustrate the presence of bacteriophage on Coastal Carolina's campus and the identification of at least one of the desired viral families. The purpose of this study was to utilize bacteriophage as an environmental indicator of the presence of harmful bacteria in waterways on the campus of Coastal Carolina University and to identify bacteriophage that could be used to control bacterial blooms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacteriophages are used as indicators of pathogenic bacteria in drinking, and wastewaters. They also show potential in limiting aquatic bacterial populations through their lytic properties. The effect of different water characteristics (salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, and temperature) on the sensitivity of the PCR identification of virus particles were analyzed to determine at what levels bacteriophage can be detected in environmental samples. Results from this preliminary study indicate that a PCR bacteriophage detection technique has potential as a relatively efficient and economical indicator of coliform contamination in multiple aquatic environments. While further evaluation is needed, the protocol appears to function in both fresh water and saline environments, and a range of abiotic and flux conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacteriophages are naturally occurring, nonpathogenic viruses, which infect bacterial cells. Recently, bacteriophage research has increased with hopes of using them against antibiotic resistant bacterial infections in the future. This study aimed to determine a possible correlation between perceived stress and the Staphylococcus aureus bacteriophage population at Coastal Carolina University (CCU), Conway, South Carolina, using isolation and characterization techniques to further understand humans as a potential bacteriophage source. From October 2020 to March 2021, nasal and postauricular swab samples were collected from 12 participants on a monthly basis along with a perceived stress survey. Samples were subjected to filtration, amplification, plaque assays, and PCR techniques to identify and characterize bacteriophage. The purpose of this study was to understand humans as a repository for bacteriophage and to understand factors, namely perceived stress, which affect bacteriophage presence on humans. Results suggested that possible changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as increased stress levels, mask wearing, and constant hand washing/ sanitizing, caused a drastic decrease in the Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus phage population at Coastal Carolina University. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacteriophages are viruses that only infect bacterial cells and can be used to treat antibiotic resistant bacterial infections. This study focused on the isolation and characterization of bacteriophages lytic to Staphylococcus aureus at Coastal Carolina University (CCU) in Conway, South Carolina, as a means to isolate bacteriophages that can potentially be used to treat methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), an antibiotic-resistant S. aureus variant. From 2014 to 2018, collection of ear and nose samples from 225 randomly selected CCU volunteers was conducted. Filter sterilization, amplification, microbial tests, and PCR analyses were performed in order to identify and characterize bacteriophages. Coliphage populations were also monitored as an indicator of temporal competition and fecal contamination. A pilot study was initiated in 2017 in which 15 CCU volunteers were sampled once a month from October 2017 through March 2018 in order to investigate coliphage and S. aureus phage population dynamics. The purpose of this study was to gain insight into the lytic Staphylococcus aureus phage repository found in the CCU community, and to explore S. aureus phage dynamics amongst the CCU populace. Results indicated that a considerable S. aureus and E. coli phage reservoir exists amongst the CCU population. Most phages could not be characterized via PCR analysis, suggesting high diversity. The preliminary study indicated that S. aureus and E. coli hosts potentially exhibit temporal competition, of which might be explanatory of phage population fluctuations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]