title: Maximizing yields of virulent phage: the T4/Escherichia coli system as a test case.
abstract: A hybrid mathematical model was devised to obtain optimal values for bacterial doubling time and initial phage/bacteria multiplicity of infection for the purpose of reaching the highest possible phage titers in steady-state exponentially growing cultures. The computational model consists of an initial probabilistic stage, followed by a second one processed by a system of delayed differential equations. The model's approach can be used in any phage/bacteria system for which the relevant parameters have been measured. Results of a specific case, based on the detailed, known information about the interactions between virulent T4 phage and its host bacterium Escherichia coli, display a range of possible such values along a highlighted strip of parameter values in the relevant parameter plane. In addition, times to achieve these maxima and gains in phage concentrations are evaluated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, POB 653, Be'er-Sheva 84105, Israel.
authors.forename: Ira
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Aviram
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, POB 653, Be'er-Sheva 84105, Israel. Electronic address: avinoam@bgu.ac.il.
authors.forename: Avinoam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rabinovitch
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Natural Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, POB 653, Kiryat Bergman, Be'er-Sheva 84105, Israel.
authors.forename: Arieh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zaritsky
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D017122:Bacteriophage T4 / Q000502:physiology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000821:virology*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011336:Probability; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014774:Virulence
keywords: Delayed-differential equations; Doubling time; Maximal bacteriophage titer; Multiplicity of infection; Probability