Magnetic immobilisation as a promising approach against bacteriophage infection

Abstract

Bacteriophage infection is a major concern in industrial fermentation, as phage infections can lyse industrially valuable cells, which consequently disturbs the production process. In the present study, L-lysine functionalised magnetic nanoparticles were synthesised through a co-precipitation reaction. The physicochemical properties of the prepared particles were evaluated using several methods such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray powder diffractometry (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). Escherichia coli was used as a prokaryotic model, and the cells were decorated with magnetic nanoparticles in various concentrations. The resistance of the magnetically immobilised cells to phage infection was investigated using a double-layer plaque assay, against a head and tail phage. It was observed that magnetic nanoparticles provided a concentration dependent protection against phage infection. An increase in the magnetic nanoparticle concentration up to 250 μg ml−1 resulted in a significant reduction in the incidence of phage infection.