Isolation and characterization of bacteriophages of rumen bacterium Prevotella bryantii TC1-1

Abstract

Sampling, inoculation and extraction procedures were elaborated for the isolation of bacteriophages from cattle rumen fluid. Several strains from four different species of rumen bacterial genus Prevotella were used as indicator organisms as well as Escherichia coli, Salmonella sp. and Yersinia enterocolitica strains. Only one strain, i.e. P.bryantii TC1-1 was successfully infected with filter sterilised rumen fluid inoculum containing rumen bacteriophages. Two plaque morphotypes were observed, both being turbid and rather small but clearly different in size. The preliminary transmission electron microscopy analysis showed that all observed bacteriophages have presumably icosahedral symmetry. The infection trials of other Prevotella strains with isolated bacteriophages from the strain TC1-1 were successful only with type strains of species P.bryanti and P.brevis respectively. Bacteriophage purification and long term storage procedures were elaborated.

Keywords

• microbiology
• bacteriophage
• bacteria
• isolation
• characterization
• tem
• rumen