U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 Food and Feed Safety Research: College Station, TX
 close



    Research

                    Research Projects
                                    Publications
                                    Collaborations
                                    News
                People

                    Staff Listing
                                    CareersSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Plains Area College Station, Texas Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center Food and Feed Safety Research Research Publications at this Location





- ARS National Programs
- Search for a scientific manuscript
- Search for a research project
- ARS Software
- Programs and Projects
- Collaborations
- Subjects of Investigation
- Publications

Title:   Author  item
                                            Callaway, Todditem
                                            Edrington, Thomasitem
                                            Anderson, Robinitem
                                            Jung, Yong Sooitem
                                            Genovese, Kenneth

                                                         - *Ken*item
                                            Elder, Robertitem
                                            Nisbet, David
  Submitted to: International Symposium and Workshop on Shiga Toxin ... Escherichia coli
                                    Publication Type: Abstract Only
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 8/20/2002
                                    Publication  Date: N/A
                                    Citation: N/AInterpretive Summary:
                                Technical Abstract: Bacteriophage that specifically target bacteria have been used to treat bacterial infections in humans as an alternative to antibiotics.  Previous research has examined the use of bacteriophage to control food-borne pathogenic bacteria in food animals, however results have been inconclusive.  Sheep (n=32) were transported from open range pasture to College Station, TX.  Feces were collected and enriched for bacteriophage via standard procedures and 46% were positive for naturally-occurring bacteriophage.  A phage (CEV-1) was isolated into pure culture via filtration prior to further characterization.  Microscopic examination revealed that the phage had characteristic T-even phage morphology.  Molecular studies indicated that the genome was approximately 180 kb in size and that the capsid protein shared 94% homology with the gp23 capsid protein of T4 bacteriophage.  CEV-1 bacteriophage killed strains (n=18) of E. coli O157:H7 as well as K-12, O43:H7, O126:H7, O158:H7 and Omulti:H7 in in vitro activity assays; however other bacterial species (e.g. Salmonella, Streptococcus) were not affected by this phage.  Treatment of pure cultures of E. coli O157:H7 with CEV-1 in a 10:1 PFU/CFU ratio resulted in a rapid (6 h) significant (P < 0.05) decrease in concentrations of viable cells (10**8 to 10**4 CFU/ml).  Addition of CEV-1 to in vitro ruminal and fecal fermentations containing E. coli O157:H7 resulted in a reduction of approximately 2 log10 CFU/ml E. coli O157:H7.  Sheep not naturally shedding bacteriophage (n=8) were experimentally challenged with E. coli O157:H7 and then inoculated with bacteriophage CEV-1.  Concentrations of E. coli O157:H7 were numerically but not significantly (P>0.05) reduced (approximately 2 log10 CFU/g digesta) in the rumen, cecum and colon.  Although it appears that bacteriophage treatment could be used to reduce E. coli O157:H7 in food animals, further research is crucial prior to implementation.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov