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Following Cell-fate in E. coli After Infection by Phage Lambda
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Electron Microscopy Methods for Phage-Based Study

Damayanti Bagchi1,2

  • 1Department of Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA.

Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|March 25, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Electron microscopy (EM) is crucial for phage research, aiding discovery and identification. This chapter details EM protocols, their pros and cons, and their role in characterizing phage-based therapies for antimicrobial resistance.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Microscopy
  • Nanotechnology

Background:

  • Electron microscopy (EM) is essential for phage research, including discovery and identification.
  • Negative staining protocols are a key component of EM processing for phages.
  • Phage-based therapies, like nanoparticle-phage conjugates, show promise against antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize widely used EM protocols in phage research.
  • To discuss the advantages and limitations of these EM techniques.
  • To highlight the importance of EM in characterizing novel phage-based conjugates for AMR.

Main Methods:

  • Review of established electron microscopy protocols for phage research.
  • Detailed explanation of negative staining techniques.
  • Discussion of EM methods for analyzing nanoparticle-phage conjugates.

Main Results:

  • Comprehensive overview of EM protocols applicable to phage research.
  • Analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of various staining methods.
  • Emphasis on the utility of EM for evaluating phage-based therapeutic agents.

Conclusions:

  • Electron microscopy is indispensable for advancing phage research and development.
  • Optimized EM protocols are critical for successful phage characterization.
  • EM plays a key role in the development of phage-based strategies to combat AMR.
Keywords:
Metal nanoparticle-phage conjugateNanoparticle-phage conjugatesNegative stainingSample preparationSynthesis strategyUranyl acetate

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