Photo by V. Miller
May 3, 2006
Viruses and Bacteria
Comparing the Rate and Specificity of Bacteriocidal Effects of Antibiotics and Phages on E. coli and Lactococcus lactis
Nilesh Raval, 13, Saginaw, Mich.
Finalist, Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge, 2005
Project background: With public awareness of antibiotic resistance growing, Nilesh began to look for alternatives and stumbled across phages, viruses that infect bacteria. He hypothesized that a particular phage, T-4, would kill E. coli more selectively and more quickly than antibiotics do.
Tactics and results: Nilesh grew bacteria from E. coli and L. lactis and added either antibiotics or T-4 phages. He then determined the extent and timing of the bacteriocidal activity of the two agents.
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| Photo by V. Miller |
The antibiotics erased both types of bacteria, while the T-4 phages killed only E. coli. The antibiotics and phages killed equal amounts of E. coli in 30 minutes.
Nilesh concludes that phages may be an effective alternative to antibiotics for killing certain harmful bacteria.
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