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Page Stories Thursday, August 9, 2001
Bacteria-killer virus draws science world to Evergreen Olympia college known as leader in phage research ALMA D. SHARPE, THE OLYMPIAN OLYMPIA -- A tiny parasite that is the subject of intense research at The Evergreen State College might play a key role in the future annihilation of disease and infection. But few have heard of the bacteriophage virus, or "phage," as the bacteria killer is commonly known among scientists. Scientists from around the globe are meeting through Monday at Evergreen to advance the study of phages. The 14th Evergreen International Phage Biology Meeting this week is one of the first times scientists will focus not on the nature of the virus, but on its potential uses. The gathering is bringing fame to Evergreen, which is one of the leading institutions in phage research. The meeting also is opening career doors for students who will participate in phage research and will network with experts. Bacteria killers "In this country, almost no one else is doing academic work on phage therapy," said Elizabeth Kutter, one of the country's leading phage researchers and a faculty member at Evergreen. To understand the potential of phages, it's helpful to think of them as bacteria killers. Simply put, when a phage comes into contact with a bacterium, it attaches to it and "impregnates" the cell with its DNA material. The bacterium then produces copies of the phage to such degree that it soon explodes from the volume and dies. The new phages then go on to attack other bacteria. The process reproduces itself until all bacteria are destroyed. The virus' behavior is documented in Eastern Europe, where scientists continued their studies of phages as Western nations began focusing on antibiotics to fight infection during the 1930s. Phage research is particularly important given the growing number of patients who are immune to antibiotics. In Tblisi, a province of Georgia, one of the former Soviet republics, clinical trials with hundreds of patients have long demonstrated the effectiveness of phages in battling staph infections in humans. Tblisi researchers found that phage cured the infections in 98 percent of patients. And there are many other proven methods of curing infections, conference organizers said. Presenters will speak on the use of phages against cystic fibrosis, salmonella and environmental degradation, among others. E. coli killer? This week, researchers at Evergreen also learned they will get a two-year grant from the National Institutes of Health that will allow them to study the use of phages against the E. coli bacteria prevalent in beef. Students and researchers will try to determine whether adding phages to cattle feed destroys the E. coli virus before the cow is slaughtered and the virus is passed on to humans through meat or produce that has been fertilized with manure, said Andy Brabban, an Evergreen faculty member who will work on the project. "The possibilities are great," Brabban said. Students involved Evergreen students said they are lucky to be research assistants to the college's scientists. At many other colleges and universities, undergraduate students don't get to participate in high-level research projects. Some students will present research projects during the conference. Countless hours of lab work go fast when the subject is as interesting as phages, said Peter Varey, a student who has worked on E. coli and phage research. "This is very self-gratifying. You realize you're putting your time into something worthwhile," Varey said. "Eight hours go by quickly." Student Costanzo Allione couldn't agree more. During last year's conference, Allione met representatives from Intralytix, a Baltimore-based research company working on phages. Through his relationship with them, Allione eventually was given an internship with Intralytix, which he will start next year. "I really believe in this work, and it's definitely what I want to pursue professionally," Allione said. "We're really lucky to have the opportunity to do great science here at Evergreen. You really get to see the link between theory and application." On the Web The Bacteriophage Ecology Group (www.phage.org) The Evergreen State College (www.evergreen.edu) The Olympian Copyright 2001 |
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