Researchers at the University of Leicester have developed a method to sequence bacteriophage genomes directly from individual plaques on agar plates, combining minimal DNA input with amplification and Oxford Nanopore sequencing. This technique eliminates the need for large-scale phage purification.
Dr. Andrew Millard, co-lead of the phage centre, stated that the method "eliminates the need for large-scale purification and reduces the time to analyze hundreds of genomes from months to less than a week."
Professor Martha Clokie, also leading the centre, described this as a step toward making phage therapy practical, noting that antimicrobial resistance causes about five million deaths annually.
The Impact
The technique is intended to facilitate the creation of large, characterized phage libraries, potentially accelerating the development of phage therapies for drug-resistant infections. The researchers aim to integrate phage therapies into routine healthcare.