Document Type

Honors Project

First Advisor

Stephen F. Baron

Degree Award Date

2021

Keywords

Endolysin gene, Cloning and Overexpression, Bacteriophage, Escherichia coli

Disciplines

Biology | Microbiology

Abstract

Endolysins are enzymes used by bacteriophages at the end of their replication cycle to degrade the peptidoglycan layer of their host bacterium from within the cell. This action weakens the integrity of the bacterium’s cell wall, resulting in lysis and the release of the newly synthesized bacteriophages. Research suggests that endolysins could be used to fight bacterial infections in humans by targeting disease-causing bacteria without harming desirable bacteria or human cells. A bacteriophage specific to Streptomyces sp. SFB5A was previously isolated and its genome sequenced. Its genome contained two potential endolysin genes. Our goal is to clone and overexpress one of these genes, DNAM5_40 into Escherichia coli, purify the endolysin, and evaluate its activity against bacterial cell walls.

Recommended Citation

Orebaugh, Haley. "Cloning and Overexpression of a Bacteriophage Endolysin Gene in Escherichia coli" Junor Honors Projects, Bridgewater College, 2021.

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