title: Epifluorescent microscopy to evaluate bacteriophage capsid integrity.
abstract: The standard method to evaluate capsid integrity of DNA-based viruses, which depends on access to DNase I, relies on the removal of the capsid by solvent extraction and then the evaluation of the nucleic acid products by electrophoresis. Our method, which is based on the direct detection of capsid-borne DNA directly through the use of epifluorescent microscopy, negates the requirement of DNA extraction.
authors.affiliation: University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa.
authors.forename: Kerusha
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Naicker
authors.forename: Steven I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Durbach
mesh_terms: D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D052160:Benzothiazoles; D002213:Capsid / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D003959:Diamines; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D011804:Quinolines; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D052160:Benzothiazoles; D004279:DNA, Viral; D003959:Diamines; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D011804:Quinolines; C098022:SYBR Green I