A new bacteriophage against Erwinia amylovora UCB24
The objective of this study is to isolate, characterise and evaluate the biocontrolpotential of a bacteriophage specific to E. amylovora. In this context, a bacteriophagespecific to E. amylovora was isolated. In the course of the characterisation of theisolated phage, thermal and pH stability was tested and lytic activity against differentbacterial species was evaluated in order to determine the host range. Furthermore, thebiofilm inhibition capacity was determined in microtiter plates by crystal violetstaining method, and the antibacterial activity of the phage was detailed by killingcurve analysis and multiplicity of infection (MOI) studies. Scanning ElectronMicroscopy (SEM) analyses were performed in order to examine the morphologicaleffects of phage on biofilm structures. Disruptions in biofilm integrity were observedin phage-treated groups. Simultaneously, the morphological structures of the phageparticles were visualised by means of SEM, and their structural integrity wasconfirmed. In molecular analyses, genomic DNA of sufficient purity and quantity wasobtained from the isolated phage. Following the confirmation of quality control byagarose gel electrophoresis, whole genome sequencing was performed. The raw data,which had been subjected to a process of sequencing, were then subjected to a processof cleaning, annotation and identification of structural and functional genes.Furthermore, a comparative phylogenetic analysis was conducted using various E.amylovora phages that have been defined in the extant literature. The evolutionaryposition of the isolated phage was demonstrated by means of a phylogenetic tree. Alldata obtained within the scope of the thesis study were subjected to statistical analysis,which revealed that the isolated phage has a strong biocontrol potential.