Amplification of phage library - (Jun/23/2006 )

Dear all,

I would like to amplify a phage library. But I haven't done this before. Do anyone have experience on this? What types of bacteria should I use? How to retain the titer and the diversity of the library?

Many Thx!!!!!

siuchi

It's very difficult to keep the diversity of a phage library after amplification. The relative growth rates of different phage make the population quickly dominated by those that reproduce more rapidly. So, first rule, don't. Second rule, as little as possible. Third rule, use a very low MOI.

thx very much!!!!
What's the meaning of MOI??

siuchi

MOI = multiplicity of infection, the ratio of phage particles to cells which can be infected by them. You want an excess of cells, so that each phage can infect its own cell, and the phages released can have some uninfected cells to multiply in.