Development of deterministic and stochastic models for a T7 phage-E. coli system with vaccination strategy implementation

Abstract

preventing the spread of infectious disease. • Pulse vaccination strategy, the repeated application of a vaccine over a defined population at a set time interval is gaining prominence as a strategy for the elimination of diseases such as measles, hepatitis, and smallpox. • In order to study the effectiveness of this strategy, a bench experiment will be designed using E. coli bacteria and T7 bacteriophage, and studying the interactions and mechanisms in a chemostat. Bacteria, the most abundant organisms on Earth, are outnumbered 10 to 1 by the bacteriophage that infect them. Bacteria have developed various mechanisms to evade phage infection as phage have simultaneously developed new strategies to infect the host. • Using this system allows us to study the spread of infectious disease in laboratory setting. • To test vaccination in system, the rcsA gene (immunity) in E. coli will be chemically induced. Preliminary experiments were conducted to determine the best concentration of IPTG to give immunity to the host cells when phage is at a given concentration. • Elimination and emergence of infectious disease both involve system that is pushed over a critical point. Preliminary studies regarding early warning signs for approaching a bifurcation point and critical slowing down (examining the phage being driven to extinction by vaccination) were also conducted. Objective