Targeted bacteriophage application to control water contamination by Escherichia coli, Vibrio and Salmonella

Abstract

Water contamination and scarcity of pure water is a major issue of concern in our country. Water borne epidemics caused by different strains of Escherichia coli, Salmonella or Vibrio have become more frequent in many developing and underdeveloped countries. Over the years, the application of bacteriophage as bacterial control tools in various sectors of medicine, food and biotechnology has grown to be immensely popular. This study was conducted to shed light on the potential effects of Escherichia coli, Vibrio and Salmonella specific bacteriophages as bacterial control tools to control water pollution. In this study, after collecting 16 samples from three surface water sources in Dhaka city, isolation of bacteria and bacteriophages was done. Eventual confirmation of bacteriophage and its hosts led to comparative analysis of the change in the lag phase of bacterial growth in presence or absence of phage. The current research may provide information on how bacteriophages are used as bacterial control tools, and how they help with bacterial control in water pollution.