Isolation and Transmission Electron Microscopic Characterization of

Bacteriophages in Sewage Specific for E.coli O157:H7 and Citrobacter Freundii

Salvatore Valenti-MicrobiologyDepartment of Biological Sciences

My Question?

• Can I prove that phages are present in the sample collected from a sewage plant by visualizing them via Transmission Electron Microscopy?

• By answering this question I will help future generations of Wagner microbiology students perform further analyses of bacteriophages.

Philips CM 100 Transmission Electron Microscope

E.Coli O157:H7 phage from my sample

A B

C D

Citrobacterphage from my sample

A B

C D

Conclusion

• Water samples from sewage plants are rich in phages for E. coli O157:H7 and Citrobacter freundii as it was proven with electron microscopy.

• Having learned the techniques to isolate bacteriophages and visualize them with the electron microscope makes me more competitive in the job market.

Acknowledgements

• Dr. Kathleen Bobbitt• Prof. Christopher Corbo• Zulmaire Franco• Dr. Roy Mosher• Dr. Adam Houlihan