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Skim passage: a rapid method of adapting influenza viruses to new host tissues
Intervirology
|January 1, 1975
Abstract:
Skim passage is a series of single-growth cycles whose earliest yield is separated and used, without dilution, for further passages. The method allows effective selection of fast-growing mutants, and the time of adaptation can be shortened to a few days instead of the several weeks or months taken by the conventional sequence of blind passages. The technical details are illustrated by three examples, which also serve to display the scope and limitations of the method.
Insights
This study introduces skim passage, a method for rapidly selecting fast-growing mutants. It significantly reduces adaptation time from months to days using single-growth cycles.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Genetics
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Conventional methods for selecting fast-growing mutants are time-consuming, often requiring weeks or months.
- Adaptation studies typically involve sequential passages, which can be inefficient for isolating specific growth characteristics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and detail the skim passage method for efficient mutant selection.
- To demonstrate the method's ability to shorten adaptation times significantly.
- To illustrate the scope and limitations of skim passage through practical examples.
Main Methods:
- Skim passage involves a series of single-growth cycles.
- The earliest yield from each cycle is used for subsequent passages without dilution.
- This technique facilitates the selection of mutants with accelerated growth rates.
Main Results:
- The skim passage method effectively selects for fast-growing mutants.
- Adaptation times were reduced to a matter of days, compared to conventional methods.
- The study provided technical details and demonstrated applications through three distinct examples.
Conclusions:
- Skim passage offers a significantly faster alternative to conventional methods for mutant selection.
- The method is effective in accelerating the adaptation process for microbial or cell cultures.
- Understanding the scope and limitations is crucial for optimal application of this technique.