Institute Insights: Faculty in Focus is a series, found on vmi.edu and the VMI LinkedIn account, spotlighting the meaningful contributions of VMI faculty across disciplines. Their work contributes to the Institute’s mission to prepare leaders of character and competence.

Maj. Alison Burke, Ph.D., Department of Biology

With ocean temperatures on the rise, new public health challenges are surfacing in unexpected places like oysters. For Maj. Alison Burke, assistant professor in the Department of Biology at Virginia Military Institute, research into naturally occurring viruses called bacteriophages may offer a promising solution to the growing threat of Vibrio parahaemolyticus (VP), a bacterial pathogen that causes seafood-borne illness.

“VP is found in brackish and marine waters and is one of the leading causes of seafood-related gastroenteritis in the United States,” Burke explained. “It can infect marine organisms like oysters and shrimp, and when humans eat them raw or undercooked, it can lead to serious illness.”

Approximately 50,000 cases of vibriosis are reported annually in the U.S. Once limited mostly to the Gulf of Mexico, VP has spread up both coasts, including into the Chesapeake Bay, where restoration efforts are underway to reintroduce billions of native oysters.

Oysters play a critical ecological role as filter feeders and habitat builders, but they can also pose a risk.

“Because oysters filter large volumes of seawater, up to 50 gallons per day, they can concentrate VP up to ten times the levels found in the surrounding water,” Burke said.

Burke’s current research focuses on isolating bacteriophages. These viruses can infect and kill specific bacteria to reduce VP levels in oyster spat used for reef restoration.

“These phages are highly specific to their bacterial hosts,” she said. “They attach to VP cells, inject their genetic material, and replicate inside the bacteria until the cell bursts, releasing more phages to continue the cycle.”

To find effective phages, Burke and her team collect oyster and water samples from VP-contaminated sites. The samples are filtered and enriched with VP cultures to encourage viral replication. After incubation, phages are isolated and purified using plaque assays that identify viral activity through clear zones in bacterial lawns.

“The goal is to test whether these phages can be used to safely reduce VP levels in aquaculture-raised spat before they are introduced into restoration sites,” she said. “One of the concerns is that introducing spat from hatcheries could spread new strains of pathogenic VP to previously unaffected areas of the bay.”

Burke hopes to support both the success of oyster restoration and the safety of seafood consumption by treating oyster spat with VP-specific phages.

Research Impact

Burke will share her findings and insights on the public radio program “With Good Reason” during the week of April 5–11. The episode, titled “Shellfish Unfiltered,” will explore challenges facing marine life and highlight ongoing research efforts in Virginia.

In addition to Burke, the episode will feature David Johnson, Chris Patrick, and Richard Snyder of William & Mary, and Bruce Cahoon of the University of Virginia’s College at Wise. Topics will include endangered mussel species, efforts to restore Virginia’s bay scallops, and the destructive spread of purple crabs in East Coast salt marshes.

“With Good Reason” is sponsored by the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities. Local broadcast times, streaming audio, and companion news features are available at withgoodreasonradio.org.

At VMI, faculty research like Burke’s demonstrates the Institute’s commitment to inquiry-driven learning and hands-on science. By engaging in real-world problems, cadets and faculty work side-by-side to advance public knowledge and environmental stewardship.

This research series is a collaboration between the featured faculty members and Rhita Daniel, Social Media Specialist, VMI Communications & Marketing.