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Postdoctorl Proposal USA
Postdoctorl Proposal USA
Proposal for
Admission Title –
Study design, the design of experiments and plan
in
of work for bacteriophages found in USA.
Postdoctora
l Degree. University – Recognized University Food Safety,
Agriculture and Health laboratory
By - Prashant SR Khemariya
Table of content
Phages
•Past
•Present
•Future
Phages
Phages, are viruses that infect and replicate within bacteria and archaea.
Bacteriophages are composed of proteins that encapsulate a DNA or RNA genome, and may have structures that are
either simple or elaborate
They are among the most common and diverse entities in the biosphere. Phages have been used since late 19th
century as an alternative to antibiotics in the former Soviet Union and Central Europe, as well as in France. They are
seen as a possible therapy against multi-drug-resistant strains of many bacteria.
Project's introduction History of Phage
Bacteria Eaters -Félix d'Herelle and Frederick Twort.
Phages were first used to treat bacterial infections over 100 years ago, to treat bacterial
infections in humans and animals.
Their effectiveness led to the establishment of phage therapy, a treatment method that
utilizes phages to target and eliminate specific pathogenic bacteria. Phages were also used to
control bacterial contaminants in food and water.
Their continued use in Georgia, Russia, and Poland—their use continued in those countries but
was largely discontinued elsewhere because of the availability of antibiotics.
The cautionary words from the discoverer of antibiotics, Alexander Fleming while accepting
the Nobel prize "I would like to sound one note of warning. The time may come when
penicillin can be bought by anyone in the shops and ignorant person may underdose himself
to non-lethal quantities of antibiotics making the microbes resistant"
History of Phage
In early of 19th century , there were two microbiologists who gave us Phages
(1915) Twort a British physician and microbiologist– twort was working on the growth of Micrococcus bacterial on agar plate but
bacteria were not growing even when subcultured.
Initially he concluded that an unknow substance is there which inhibit the growth of the bacterial,
Later on he further researched and he found that that substance is able to pass though the fine filter and cause the lysis of baceria.
Before Twort could conduct further experiments, the First World War interrupted his career and he joined Royal Army Medical Corps
and moved to Greece.
In 1917 d’Hérelle - French-Canadian microbiologist he was independently working on another research "enteric bacteria of dysentery
patients"
He said “invisible microbe that is antagonistic to the dysentery bacillus” the bacteriophage (a bacteria-eater, from the
Greek phagein meaning "to devour").
D’Hérelle concluded his paper with a few observations: that the bacteriophage is a “microbe of immunity;” it has specificity; and there
is a real potential to treat bacterial infections with phage therapy.
Health issue in the US
According to a 2019 report from the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention on antibiotic threats in
the United States, each year over 2.8 million antibiotic resistant infections occur in the United States alone.
And, sadly, more than 35,000 people die in USA and 1.2 million people globally, as a result
In addition, according to the WHO, antimicrobial resistance is one of the top ten global health threats. So,
there is no doubt that this is a serious public health issue. To avoid bacterial resistance we need new
antibiotics and that is not easy.
If nothing changes, by 2050, 10 million people are expected to die from drug-resistant diseases every year.
Present condition of Phage
Over the years, phage therapy has evolved, Clinical trials are
ongoing to evaluate the efficacy and safety of phage therapy.
Project
approach Outline of statistical analysis
design for the plan of work.
Complete attached logic
model template based on
the information.
New viruses
Assembly & emerge from
the host cell, often
Release destroying it in the
process.
The Lysogenic Cycle
Food Safety
Transmission electron
Magnification of virus particles 2–3 day Works well with unknown phages Costly, laborious, high concentration needed
microscopy
Flow cytometry Viral particles 4–12 h Can detect different phages in a sample Expensive, low sensitivity, skilled operator needed
Droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) Viral nucleic acid 2–6 h No need for internal standards Could easily overestimate viral abundance
Equipment
A spectrophotometer, centrifuge,
pipettes, and a biosafety cabinet are
essential tools for phage isolation.
Sewage Water
Sewage samples are rich in diverse bacterial
populations, thus useful for the isolation of phages.
Soil Samples
Phages are ubiquitous in soil, where they play a
significant role in bacterial population control.
Sample Preparation
• Quantification
• The concentration of bacteria in the
sample must be determined, usually
by measuring optical density.
• Filtering
• The sample is filtered to remove
bacterial debris and particles that may
interfere in phage isolation
• Storage
• The filtered sample is stored in a cold
environment until further use.
Bacterial Host Culture
Morphological Characterization
One-Step Growth Curve
Genetic Characterization
Phage Typing
Phage Receptor Identification
Phage DNA Restriction Analysis
Lysis Kinetics
Introduction
• It's important to note that the success of isolating and detecting lytic
bacteriophages from environmental samples depends on factors like sample
quality, the choice of host bacterium, and the presence of phages in the sample.
The process may require several iterations and optimizations to yield positive
results.
• After Isolation, characterizing lytic bacteriophages involves a series of laboratory
techniques and experiments to understand their properties, including host range,
morphology, and genetic makeup. Here are some common methods used for
characterizing lytic bacteriophages
• Morphological Characterization: Electron microscopy, such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM) or scanning
electron microscopy (SEM
• This research work will provide information about the phage's size, shape, and structural features.
• One-Step Growth Curve: This experiment will measure the phage's latent period (time before phage replication) and burst
size (number of phage particles released per infected host cell).
• This research step will involve infecting a bacterial culture and sampling at regular intervals to measure the increase in
phage concentration.
• Genetic Characterization: Phage DNA will be isolated and analyzed using techniques like polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
and DNA sequencing.
• This research work will provide insights into the phage's genetic composition, including its genome size, structure, and
potential genes involved in host recognition and lysis.
• Phage Typing: Phage typing involves characterizing phages based on their ability to produce distinct patterns of lysis on
different bacterial strains.
• This can be useful for identifying and classifying phages.
• Phage Receptor Identification: Understanding the receptors on the host cell that the phage attaches to can be crucial.
• Techniques like receptor blocking and adsorption inhibition assays can help identify these receptors.
• Phage DNA Restriction Analysis: Using restriction enzymes to digest phage DNA can provide information about its genetic
diversity.
• Lysis Kinetics:
• Measuring the time, it takes for a phage to lyse a population of host cells can provide insights into the phage's efficiency
and potency.
Methods for determining the
host range of lytic phage
Bacteriophage Biotechnological
Phage selection
ecology applications
Host range determination Understanding the host range Knowledge of host range helps
allows researchers to identify helps elucidate the dynamic in the development of phage-
phages with high infectivity interactions between phages based detection methods,
against specific bacterial and bacteria in diverse biocontrol agents, and as tools
strains, enabling precise environments, contributing to in genetic engineering and
targeting and potential our knowledge of microbial bioremediation.
therapeutic applications. ecosystems.
The presence of specific
Bacterial receptor receptors on the bacterial
surface determines phage
availability binding and subsequent
infection.
• Foodborne Pathogens
• Role in Controlling Foodborne Pathogens
• Interactions Between Lytic Phages and Foodborne
Pathogens
• The Significance of Studying Interactions for Food
Safety
ExaminingLytic Phage
Interactions with
Foodborne Pathogens in
Food Matrices
As food safety challenges increase, understanding the interactions
between lytic phages and foodborne pathogens in food matrices
becomes increasingly important.
The interactions between lytic phage isolates and foodborne pathogens in
food matrices are of significant interest in the field of food safety and
microbiology.
Studying phage-pathogen interactions and growth dynamics through
suspension and growth studies will be a valuable approach during the
research to understand the dynamics of bacteriophages (phages) and their
impact on bacterial pathogens.
in third and fourth years of the project we will be able to understand insights
into phage therapy, phage ecology, and bacterial resistance mechanisms.
Below are some examinations of these interactions:
Salmonella, Shiga toxin-
Foodborne Pathogens: Overview and Risks producing E. coli,
Campylobacter, and
Listeria monocytogenes
A bacterium commonly found in A bacterium that can cause severe A bacterium best known for
in contaminated food, causing severe infections in vulnerable causing urinary tract infections, but
gastroenteritis and other illnesses. populations, including pregnant infections, but some strains can
illnesses. Salmonella is a leading pregnant women and can cause severe gastrointestinal
leading cause of foodborne illness immunocompromised individuals. gastrointestinal symptoms. E. coli
illness worldwide. individuals. Listeria is particularly coli infections can be particularly
particularly concerning because it particularly dangerous for young
because it can grow at refrigeration young children and the elderly.
refrigeration temperatures. elderly.
Sample
• a. Dairy Products: Milk, cheese, and yogurt are susceptible to contamination with pathogens like
Listeria and E. coli. Lytic phages can be added to these products to target and reduce pathogen
populations.
• b. Meat and Poultry: Raw and processed meats are often contaminated with Salmonella,
Campylobacter, and E. coli. Lytic phages can be applied as antimicrobial interventions during
processing to enhance food safety.
• c. Seafood: Seafood products, such as oysters and shrimp, can harbor Vibrio species, which are
harmful pathogens. Lytic phages specific to Vibrio can be used to reduce contamination.
• d. Fresh Produce: Fruits and vegetables can be contaminated with pathogens like E. coli and
Salmonella. Lytic phages can be employed in wash solutions or as post-harvest treatments to
reduce the risk of contamination.
Interactions Between Lytic Phages and Foodborne Pathogens
• Low Concentration: Using a low phage concentration might not effectively reduce
the pathogen population, especially in cases of high bacterial load. It could result in
treatment failure.
• Optimal Concentration: The ideal phage concentration should be sufficient to infect
and replicate within the target bacteria rapidly. The concentration required can vary
widely based on the specific phage-bacteria interaction.
• High Concentration: Excessively high phage concentrations may not necessarily
improve pathogen reduction and can increase the risk of phage-resistant mutants
emerging.
Phage Cocktails
• Single Phage: Using a single phage strain in therapy can be effective when there is a
highly specific and well-characterized interaction between the phage and the target
pathogen. However, it carries a higher risk of resistance development.
• Phage Cocktails: Phage cocktails consist of multiple phage strains targeting the
same or different bacterial species. They can increase the spectrum of activity and
reduce the likelihood of resistance.
• Cocktail Composition: The selection of phages for a cocktail should be based on
their ability to work synergistically and cover a broad range of target bacteria. The
proportions of each phage in the cocktail can also affect treatment outcomes.
Reporting and Interpretation
• The detailed report will be prepared and summarized the experimental setup,
methods, results, and statistical analysis.
• Discussion will bae carried out on findings, including which treatment
conditions are most effective in controlling foodborne pathogen growth.
• Recommendations from the supervisor will be applicable for practical
applications of phage treatment in the food industry based on the study's
outcomes.
• Potential limitations and areas for future research will be considered
Data Analysis
Project
approach Outline of statistical
analysis design for the
Complete attached logic
model template based on
plan of work. the information.
The success of the Phages project hinges on an effective plan of work and
and carefully selected methods. Let's explore how we can achieve this!
Certainly, I can help to improve my research plan. To do so effectively, I'll need
to study in more details about our specific research methods, project and
feasibility. However, I can provide a general structure and tips to enhance our
research plan:
Literature Review:
· Summarize relevant research in our field.
· Identify gaps in the existing literature that our research will address.
· Show how our research builds on previous work.
Methodology:
· Describe our research methods in detail. This includes data collection and
analysis techniques.
· Justify our choice of methods. Explain why they are appropriate for our
research.
· Discuss any ethical considerations, including how we will obtain informed
consent if necessary.
Assessing the Current Plan of Work
1 Strengths & Weaknesses
We'll identify the strengths and weaknesses of the current plan to understand areas that
areas that need improvement.
By analyzing project objectives and milestones, we can ensure that they align with our
overall vision.
Identifying and Prioritizing Key Methods
Methods
Exploring Research Methods
We'll delve into various research methods that can be applied to the Phages project.
Considering factors like feasibility and efficiency, we'll assess which methods can yield the best
results.
Resource Requirements
Identifying the resources required for each method is crucial to ensure their successful
implementation.
Evaluating Pros and Cons
1 Advantages & Disadvantages
We'll carefully analyze the advantages and disadvantages of each method to make informed
decisions.
Considering the potential impact of each method on the Phages project outcomes will guide
our decision-making process.
Selecting the Most Suitable Methods
1 Alignment with Project Objectives
We'll ensure that the selected methods are aligned with the project's objectives and goals.
Assessing the compatibility of methods with the available resources will facilitate their
successful implementation.
Certainly, the selection of research methods can vary significantly depending on cost, time constraints, the nature
of the research, the research questions or objectives, and the available resources. The given methods will be
further studied to identify fulfilment. Before changing a new methods some other factors will be considered,
factors as like–
Ethical Considerations
Validity and Reliability
Reproducibility and validation of methods
Supervisor’s opinion
Cleaning Validation
Implementing and Monitoring Progress
Creating a detailed timeline and action plan will help us stay organized and focused on
achieving our goals.
We'll make any adjustments needed along the way to improve the plan and enhance
project outcomes.
Conclusion
Recapping the Importance Highlighting Selected Methods
In conclusion, we'll recap the importance of We'll highlight the methods we've chosen and
improving the plan of work for the Phages discuss their potential impact on the Phages
project. project.
Laboratory Procedures:
Provide step-by-step protocols for laboratory experiments or analyses.
Include details about equipment, reagents, and materials required.
Highlight quality control measures to ensure data accuracy.
Data Analysis:
• Outline the statistical or analytical techniques we will employ.
• Explain how we will interpret and present our findings.
• Address any potential challenges or limitations in our analysis.
Timeline:
• Create a realistic timeline for our research, including milestones and deadlines.
• Consider potential setbacks and allocate time for unexpected delays.
Budget:
• Estimate the budget required for our research, including expenses for materials,
equipment, participant compensation, or travel.
•Review and Proofreading:
•Before finalizing our research plan, review it for clarity, coherence, and grammar.
•Seek feedback from peers or mentors to refine our plan further.
Outline of project study
design to include the How would I improve the
design of experiments for plan of work? Would I
each phase of the plan of select different methods ?
work.
Project
approach Outline of statistical
analysis design for the
Complete attached logic
model template based on
plan of work. the information.
• Clearly state the research objectives, such as identifying phages that are effective against specific foodborne pathogens.
• Formulate testable hypotheses, such as "Phages A, B, and C are more effective in reducing foodborne illness compared
to phages X, Y, and Z."
• Data Collection
• Collect data on foodborne pathogens, phage isolates, food samples, and relevant variables.
• Ensure the data is representative of the target population and is collected in a standardized manner.
• Experimental Design:
• Design experiments to evaluate the effectiveness of phages in reducing foodborne pathogens in different food matrices.
• Consider factors like phage concentration, exposure time, temperature, and food type.
Identify
Objective of Model
Correlation
Analysis
Statistical
Analysis Regression Analysis
Techniques
• Exploratory Analysis
• Data exploration will be performed to understand the distribution,
skewness, and Kurtosis of the data.
• Correlation Analysis
• We will use correlation analysis to understand the relationship
between different variables and to identify significant factors that influence
the phages and bacterial populations.
• Regression Analysis
• Regression analysis will be used to model the interactions among variables
and to predict the outcomes of different scenarios.
• Bacterial Growth Rates
Expected • Phage-Host Interactions
Interpretation
Bacterial Growth Rates Phage-Host Interactions Community Structure
Expected outcomes include The statistical analysis will help The statistical analysis will help
identifying the factors that us understand the role of us understand the microbial
regulate bacterial and phage phages in regulating bacterial community structure and how
populations and quantifying populations and how their it is affected by environmental
their relative contribution to interactions with hosts affect factors and the interactions
ecosystem regulation. the ecosystem. among organisms.
Metagenomics
• We will use metagenomics to extract DNA
and RNA from environmental samples which
allow us to understand the microbial
community structure and function.
Data Collection
Methods Environmental Factors
• We will measure environmental factors such
as temperature, pH, salinity, and nutrients
to understand how they influence the
abundance and diversity of phages and bacteria.
• Conclusion-
Conclusion
• The statistical analysis design for the Work Phages
Project aims to provide insights into the role of phages
in regulating bacterial populations and the ecological
processes that they participate in.
• This project is part of ongoing research into microbial
ecology, and we hope that the results will help us
create a better understanding of how ecosystems
function.
Outline of project study
design to include the How would I improve the
design of experiments for plan of work? Would I
each phase of the plan of select different methods ?
work.
Project
approach Outline of statistical
analysis design for the
Complete attached logic
model template based on
plan of work. the information.
Word file
Outline of project study
design to include the How would I improve the
design of experiments for plan of work? Would I
each phase of the plan of select different methods ?
work.
Project
approach Outline of statistical
analysis design for the
Complete attached logic
model template based on
plan of work. the information.
1 Medical Field
Academic Institutions
Partnering with academic institutions allows for interdisciplinary research, knowledge exchange,
and access to specialized expertise.
Government Agencies
Collaboration with government agencies fosters regulatory support and paves the way for policy
changes promoting phage therapy.
Challenges and Limitations to
Overcome in Future Work
1 Bacteriophage Diversity
Unlocking the vast potential of diverse phage populations and harnessing their
unique traits poses a challenge.
2 Regulatory Approval
3 Resistance Development
Project
approach Outline of statistical
analysis design for the
Complete attached logic
model template based on
plan of work. the information.
Master in the scientific techniques and equipment involved in the laboratory setup.
Organizational Skills
Problem Solving
Implement standard operating procedures Stay up-to-date with industry regulations and
(SOPs) for safety, efficiency, and compliance. maintain required certifications.
Establishing Standard Procedures and
and Protocols
1 Analyze Current Processes
2 Document SOPs
Inventory Control
Preventive Maintenance
Procurement Strategies
• Performance Monitoring
• Regularly assess individual
and team performance to
identify areas
of improvement.
• Implement Feedback Loops
• Encourage open
communication
and feedback to drive
continuous improvement.
Conclusion