I'm part of a team from Rice University that is currently doing research on using bacteriophages  (viruses that infect bacteria) to con...

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I'm part of a team from Rice University that is currently doing research on using bacteriophages  (viruses that infect bacteria) to control unwanted bacteria in waste water  treatment applications.      Right now our work is purely in the research and development phase, but we are participating in an entrepreneurship program to gauge whether there is commercial need for our work. Therefore, we would love to talk to waste water treatment specialists who have knowledge with microbial controls to gain insight into industry challenges.   What  better place to inquire than on this forum with the best and brightest!  Your insights could really help us to understand the challenges currently facing the industry and to see if our technology would be helpful. We will be in Chicago the afternoons of July 10th and 11th conducting interviews with industry professionals, and if anyone may be interested to share and discuss with us please let me know.   You can email me directly at Kirk.H.Waltz@Rice.edu and we can set up a meeting time. Thank you for your time!

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9 Comments

  2. Hello Kirk; I enjoy seeing passion in youngsters. But please allow nature to answer your question and eliminate years of useless research. All microbes out compete for the food source Some DNA microbes reduce certain organic compounds into less complex form. Some work on odor, others on slime, bio solids etc. If your goal is Pathogens. Then take away their food. Then no competition, no odor, no waste,  and just say thank you to nature. The Archaea microbes do all of this and more. It is the only microbe that can do this natural recycling function.  If goal is Dollars and a job then nature can not help you.

    1 Comment reply

    1. Mr. McGown thank you for the feedback, and I do agree with you!  Let nature do what is has done best.  The big focus of this research however is more focused on bacteria that require greater control in industrial settings.  A few examples that are being looked into include the use of phages for control of antibiotic resistant bacteria in the medical sector, and sulfate reducing bacteria in oil and gas wells to prevent well souring.  Nonetheless, we would like the opportunity to discuss the challenges you see in this research and market potential.  If you have time to discuss early next week our team would love to do so.

  4. Have you talked to TEEX? They have contacts to all the wastewater treatment in Texas.

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    1. I believe TEEX may be indirectly a competitor actually!  I know Rice University and Texas A&M do have some phage research that competes with each other.

  5. An interesting research project.  I don't think we have typed even 10% of the bacteria involved in biodegradation and because phage are bacterially specific, this will make your project more interesting.  The other issue is that some bacteria grow as filamentous growth and cause problems in effluent treatment while in other conditions will form floc-forming growth and yet they are the same bacteria.  Sadly for you, I am based in the UK so it is a long walk to Chicago, but feel free to ask questions and I will try to answer.  don@lansonmicrobe.co.uk

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  6. Hello I think you catch the problem from the wrong end. A bit as currently we're looking for technical solutions to problems of all kinds even biological.

    There actually looking for a solution to a problem of biological-. - Any human intervention on the living will systematically create an imbalance of the eco system. The harmony of the natural living is and as soon as it is a matter of disruption this one reacts according to new harmony. Now when the imbalance is too important nature makes room for freedom of expression of the living. Sea algae proliferate excessively when the pollution is very important. We solve by the technique in removing the algae that suffocate the Middle without going the origin of the problem.

    There is no more bacteria bacteriophages than anything else. All bacteria are and only the - organic - characteristic of the State of the environment into account.

    The only tool that eliminates the dead bacteria is bacteria. If a bacterium eliminates other bacteria is that this one is dead or very weak way to die.

    By introducing specific types of micro organisms on the number you will create a - biological-disaster

    Now to answer your research, lyseconcept developing a biotechnology of disposal of excreta. The feces contain fecal matter, organic matter. 

    This isn't the type of bacteria, the number of bacteria, which determines the elimination of fecal matter but also any other organic matter, these are - biological - characteristics of the environment. Lyseconcept biotechnology operates between 14 and 16 biological parameter not to improve the target of destruction of waste but everything just to preserve the - organic - characteristic of the effluent. If it is - biological - completely, then the single action that would eliminate - organic waste - is

    1 Comment reply

    1.  Bonjour Jean: you explained the facts very well and with the appropriate passion. Yes in essence they are asking how to create a global disaster.  One side note you may want to add to your info file.  Microbes will out compete each other for the available food source. They do not set out to kill anything or body.  They do have the genetic code to reduce some organic compounds. But they do not have the genetic code to reduce all organic compounds into their elemental/nutritional state.  That function in nature has been reserved for the Archaea.  Big world and lots of cleaning to do.  I enjoy reading your postings. Thanks.   Guy En France, Gui.  

  8. Aren't phages already spontaneously among the highest, if not the highest, concentrations of microorganisms in wastewater? Modern technologies have identified numerous phages from pathogenic and non pathogenic bacteria in wastewater. Do you plan to somehow selectively  enhance the concentrations of phages for pathogenic bacteria? Phage disappearance is also an excellent way of tracking treatment efficacy.

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    1. That is correct Joseph.  the research is in the use of polyvalent phages that can then be used to target specific bacteria.  If you would like to discuss in greater detail we will happily do so.

  9. Dear Kirk H. Waltz, P.E. ,

    Thank you for spreading the word!

    It may be helpful to post and announce it also in 'Water Treatment Plant Operators' community - https://wtp-operators.thewaternetwork.com/  

    Good luck with the research, I am looking forward to reading the results. Be sure to share them on The Water Network!

    Best, 
    Duško

    1 Comment reply