1. Aida Vargas
Danilo Trinidad Pérez Rivera
Anthony Maldonado Colón
Hernán Méndez
http://corvusart.com/
RISE Program
Department of Biology
Prof. Eneida Díaz Pérez
Prof. Michael Rubin
2. Present the bacteriophages of interest.
Establish adequate hunting strategies.
Explain the processes carried out for
preparing the phages after localization.
Demonstrate growth acquired from the
project so far.
3. Bacteriophages, informally known as “phages”,
are viruses capable of infecting a bacterium
and replicating inside of it.
These are typically composed of proteins which
encapsulate their DNA or RNA genome.
www.theepochtimes.comwww.shapeways.com
4. Due to their specific nature, many phages can
shed light not only on viruses, but also on their
host.
Moreover, identification of “wild species” can
reveal how the given type of phage is
“evolving”.
Understanding these two things is
transcendental to medical applications.
6. Questions
Can new phages be found in the environment in
Puerto Rico?
What environments should be inspected to obtain a
phage?
Hypotheses
New phages are widespread throught most
ecosystems, therefore, there should be phages in
Puerto Rico.
The probability of finding a phage in a given
environment depends on if it is adecuate for the
phages host.
7.
8.
9. Sample Coordinates Description Place Date
AMC -
#1
18.2° 12’ 40’’ N;
66.1° W
Slightly moist
26°C; 2cm
Caguas, PR February
2, 2014
AMC -
#2
18.2°12’ 67’’ N;
66.0° 0’ 41.46’’ W
Low moisture
26°C; 1cm
Caguas, PR February
17, 2014
AMC -
#3
18.2° 12’ 9’’ N;
66° 1’ 11.9’’ W
Moderate
moisture
26°C; 3cm
Caguas, PR February
23, 2014
AMC -
#4
18.2° 12’ 1.35’’ N;
66° 2’ 13.7’’ W
Wet
26°C; 3cm
Caguas, PR March 2,
2014
AMC -
#5
18.2° 12’ 58’’ N; 66°
1’ 9.8’’ W
Very moist
26°C; 3 cm
Caguas, PR March 9,
2014
10. Sample Coordinates Description Location Date
AMC -
6#
18° 7' 2.553" N;
66° 6' 58.72" W
Moist
24°C; 1cm
Cayey, PR February
4, 2014
AMC -
#7
18° 7' 7.172" N;
66° 6' 58.33" W
Dry
26°C, 2cm
Cayey, PR February
18, 2014
AMC -
#8
18° 7' 6.686" N;
66° 9' 46.61" W
Moist
26°C, 1cm
Cayey, PR February
24, 2014
AMC -
#9
18° 7’ 8” N;
66° 9’ 45” W
Moist
27.2°C
Cayey, PR March 6,
2014
Yalina
11. Sample Coordinates
Environmental
description Location Date
DTP - #1
18° 04’46.08”N;
66° 21’47.29”W
Dry;
Superficial (1
cm); 20.6°C Coamo, PR
Feb/06/14
5:45 AM
DTP - #2
18° 02’11.57”N;
66° 22’22.25”W
Moist;
Superficial (1
cm); 21.7°C
Los Baños
de Coamo
Feb/19/14
6:36 AM
DTP - #3
18° 07’12.19”N;
66° 09’26.60”W
Mud-like;
Superficial (3
cm); 21.7°C Cayey, PR
Mar/06/14
9:52 AM
17. Understanding and characterizing
bacteriophages provides plenty of useful
information.
Puerto Rico has an ample amount of
uncharacterized phages in its soil.
One should search for phages where their host
could possibly found.
18. Dilute obtained and purified filtrate to be able
to obtain a web-pattern and high-titer phage
filtrate.
Characterize the capsid of the obtained phages
through proteomics.
Describe the structure of these phages utilizing
Electron Microscopy.
Sequence and annotate the genetic material of
these phages.
19. Losing is winning.
Practice makes perfect.
Friends make it a lot easier.
Patience is a virtue.
Quitters never win.
20. The RISE program for opening the door for us
to such a great opportunity.
Dr. Rubin for volunteering to give us such a
full and enriched experience.
Nicolle Rosa for her help as our assigned TA.
Gustavo and Giovanny for always being there
to help.
The cafeteria for the free “sample collectors”.
Our moms for the Ziplock bags.
