화학공학소재연구정보센터
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, Vol.289, No.1, 252-256, 2001
A visualization method of filamentous phage infection and phage-derived proteins in Escherichia coli using biotinylated phages
Direct visualization of filamentous phage infection in Escherichia coli (E. coli) was attempted using biotinylated phages (BIO-phages). The biotinylation of the phages did not influence their infectivity into E. coli. E. coli infected with BIO-phages could be detected by using fluorescein-conjugated avidin with confocal laser scanning microscopy, and BIO-phages and BIO-phage-derived proteins in E. coli could be directly observed by using the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method with electron microscopy. This is the first report of direct visualization of phage infection and phage-derived proteins in the host cell using a biotin-avidin interaction. This simple and powerful method is applicable to the study of infection by various viruses.