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Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Isolation and Genome Analysis of Single Virions using 'Single Virus Genomics'
Published on: May 26, 2013
Rapid method to characterize lactococcal bacteriophage genomes
C Hill1, I J Massey, T R Klaenhammer
1Departments of Food Science and Microbiology, Southeast Dairy Foods Research Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7625.
Abstract:
We present a rapid method to isolate and analyze bacteriophage DNA. Cells are infected and phage replication is allowed to proceed normally for 30 to 60 min. Prior to DNA packaging and cell bursts, the infected cells (1 ml) are harvested and lysed by using a combination of lysozyme and sodium dodecyl sulfate treatments. The total DNA recovered is enriched for phage genomes, and restriction fragments of the phage DNA can be readily visualized on agarose gels. This method was used to grossly compare the genomes of nine lactococcal phages isolated from different cheese plants at different times. The method was also used to visualize the inhibitory effects of pTR2030-induced abortive infection on the replication of phage nck202.31 in its homologous host, Lactococcus lactis NCK203.
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