title: Characterization of virus-like particles associated with the human faecal and caecal microbiota.
abstract: This work represents an investigation into the presence, abundance and diversity of virus-like particles (VLPs) associated with human faecal and caecal samples. Various methodologies for the recovery of VLPs from faeces were tested and optimized, including successful down-stream processing of such samples for the purpose of an in-depth electron microscopic analysis, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and efficient DNA recovery. The applicability of the developed VLP characterization method beyond the use of faecal samples was then verified using samples obtained from human caecal fluid.
authors.affiliation: School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Western Road, Cork, Ireland. Electronic address: lesley.hoyles@reading.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Lesley
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hoyles
authors.affiliation: Food Microbial Sciences Unit, Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, The University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6UR, UK. Electronic address: a.l.mccartney@reading.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Anne L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: McCartney
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Max Rubner-Institut, Federal Research Institute of Nutrition and Food, Kiel, Germany. Electronic address: horst.neve@mri.bund.de.
authors.forename: Horst
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Neve
authors.affiliation: Food Microbial Sciences Unit, Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, The University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6UR, UK. Electronic address: g.r.gibson@reading.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Glenn R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and King's College London, London, UK. Electronic address: jeremy.sanderson@kcl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Jeremy D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Sanderson
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Max Rubner-Institut, Federal Research Institute of Nutrition and Food, Kiel, Germany. Electronic address: knut.heller@t-online.de.
authors.forename: Knut J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Heller
authors.affiliation: School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Western Road, Cork, Ireland; Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, Biosciences Institute, National University of Ireland, Western Road, Cork, Ireland. Electronic address: d.vansinderen@ucc.ie.
authors.forename: Douwe
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: van Sinderen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044822:Biodiversity; D002432:Cecum / Q000821:virology*; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D064307:Microbiota; D008875:Middle Aged; D014780:Viruses / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Bacteriophages; Caecum; Faeces; Gastrointestinal tract; Microbial ecology; Transmission electron microscopy