Phage on tap: A quick and efficient protocol for the preparation of bacteriophage laboratory stocks

Abstract

A major limitation with traditional phage preparations is the variability in titer, salts, and bacterial contaminants between successive propagations. Here, we introduce the Phage On Tap (PoT) protocol for the quick and efficient preparation of homogenous bacteriophage (phage) stocks. This method produces homogenous, laboratory-scale, high titer (up to 10 10–12 PFU/mL), endotoxin reduced phage banks that can be used to eliminate the variability between phage propagations, improve the molecular characterizations of phage, and may be applicable for therapeutic applications. The method consists of five major parts, including phage propagation, phage cleanup by 0.22 μm filtering and chloroform treatment, phage concentration by ultrafiltration, endotoxin removal, and the preparation and storage of phage banks for continuous laboratory use. From a starting liquid lysate of >100 mL, the PoT protocol generated a cleaned, homogenous, laboratory phage bank with a phage recovery efficiency of 85% within just 2 days. In contrast, the traditional method took upward of 5 days to produce a high titer, but lower volume phage stock with a recovery efficiency of only 4%. Phage banks can be further purified for the removal of bacterial endotoxins, reducing endotoxin concentrations by over 3000-fold while maintaining phage titer. The PoT protocol focused on T-like phages, but is broadly applicable to a variety of phages that can be propagated to sufficient titer, producing homogenous, high titer phage banks that are applicable for molecular and cellular assays.