Question

How do you kill a bacteriophage?

Answer 1

Bacteriophages:

1. Bacteriophages are viruses that parasitize bacteria and reproduce within them.
2. The phage's head is made up of 2000 capsomeres that contain the genetic material—double-stranded DNA or single-stranded RNA.
3. The tail is made up of an inner hollow tube encased in a contractile sheath with 24 annular rings.
4. The trail's distal end is made up of a basal plate with tail fibers at each corner.

Ways to kill the bacteriophages:

1. If you can, discard the contaminated culture; however, instead of simply adding vircon, autoclave the culture to kill the phage.
2. Discard all of the culture preparation solutions.
3. Use ethanol to clean the shaker, your bench, and any other surfaces that may have come into contact with the contaminated culture.
4. Use a UV lamp overnight if possible. Dust is phage heaven – they can survive in a dry environment for many years – so be thorough.
5. Use a strong disinfectant to clean your pipettes.
6. Preheat your oven to 180°C and place all of your flasks (and, ideally, all of your glassware) inside.