Effect of unassembled phage protein complexes on the attachment to cellulose of genetically modified bacteriophages containing cellulose binding modules

One way to make bioactive paper is to incorporate in it bacteriophages, which can capture and deactivate bacteria. The release of newly assembled phages from lysed bacteria can also serve as a measure of the number of bacteria that were deactivated. We have studied the deposition of genetically modified phages, containing cellulose binding modules, on model cellulose surfaces by evanescent wave light scattering. It was shown that unassembled protein complexes, released with the phages during the lysis of bacteria, limit the deposition of phages to about one per 10–20 μm2, as there are far more unassembled protein complexes than phages. The implication is that a few thousand phages can attach to a cellulose fiber, with most of the surface area taken up by protein complexes. This is more than sufficient for the production of bioactive paper. The unassembled protein complexes may be beneficial, as they will prevent non-specific deposition of bacteria. Thus, it may not be necessary to separate the protein complexes from phages in an expensive purification operation.