Fluorescence-based Reporter Phage Detection Assay

Based on our advanced phage detection-based platform and powerful technology, Creative Biolabs provides customized fluorescence-based reporter phage detection services to meet customers' different purposes, greatly improving detection accuracy and sensitivity. Our highly skilled scientists are ready to begin your project.

Introduction of Fluorescence-based Reporter Phage Detection

In recent years, phages have emerged as a rapid method for detecting bacteria. The most used approach is the reporter phage detection system, in which a reporter gene, such as a fluorescent protein gene, is introduced into the phage genome and the phage is allowed to infect its host. These reporter genes produce easily identifiable reporter protein products. When these protein products are expressed within the host cell, the host cell can be readily identified. Reporter proteins often produce easily measurable fluorescent signals. Notably, the reporter phage will carry but not express the reporter gene; the reporter gene will only be expressed in the infected host when an infection event occurs.

Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) Reporter Phages

GFP is a popular and widely used reporter system. The GFP system has many properties, such as being highly stable, non-toxic, and autofluorescent. Thus, it does not require the addition of cofactors or substrates to initiate its fluorescent output. It is worth noting that it needs to be activated by the excitation light source before measuring its signal. Furthermore, since GFP is small enough to be fully integrated into most phage genomes, this property also facilitates its broad application. Currently, many applications of GFP have been reported. Researchers tested E. coli by incorporating GFP into the genome of the phage. E. coli cells could be seen fluorescing several hours after the addition of the GFP reporter phage by using a fluorescence microscope.

Fig.1 Optical and fluorescent microscopic images of E. coli identified via GFP-based reporter phage. (Smartt, 2011)

Services at Creative Biolabs

Now many advanced fluorescent reporter phages are available at Creative Biolabs. By using advanced fluorescent reporter genes and stronger phage promoters, we provide phages with 100-fold stronger fluorescent signals than second-generation fluorescent reporter phages. Furthermore, we achieved visualization of diagnostic signals in single bacterial cells by generating reporter phages that express GFP and infect. In addition, during the detection process, our dedicated scientists concentrate the bacilli using membrane filters or centrifugation to increase the sensitivity of the detection. GFP phages can identify a subset of resistant populations for a given drug and have been evaluated for our antibiotic resistance screening.

Pathogen detection using fluorescence-based reporter phage detection systems has become a popular solution. For over a decade, Creative Biolabs has been a leading provider of custom pathogen testing services to our global partners. We are pleased to share our extensive expertise in pathogen detection to facilitate our clients' project development. With advanced platforms and robust technologies, we are committed to supporting pathogen detection by developing high-quality, highly sensitive fluorescence-based reporter phage systems. If you are interested in our fluorescence-based reporter phage detection services, please feel free to contact us to discuss your project.

Reference:

1. Smartt, A. E.; et al. Bacteriophage reporter technology for sensing and detecting microbial targets. Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry. 2011, 400(4): 991-1007.