Representational Difference Analysis (RDA) of bacteriophage genomes
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Updated: Jun 25, 2026

T4 Bacteriophage and E. coli Interaction in the Murine Intestine: A Prototypical Model for Studying Host-Bacteriophage Dynamics In Vivo
Published on: January 26, 2024
Elke Lammens1, Pieter-Jan Ceyssens, Marleen Voet
1Division of Gene Technology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 21, Leuven, B-3001, Belgium.
Abstract:
We implemented the Representational Difference Analysis (RDA) screening method to identify genome variations between related bacteriophages without the need for complete genome sequencing. The strategy, optimized on phiKMV and LKD16 and further evaluated on the newly isolated phage LUZ19, is based on three successive rounds of reciprocal RDA, with an increasing driver/tester molar ratio from 100/1 to 750/1. Using three relevant restriction endonucleases, only 4 to 6 sequences per restriction enzyme are necessary to provide sufficient discriminatory information to reveal the major genome variations between phages.
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