Combating Phage Rage

Life Technologies' MAX Efficiency DH5a Competent Cells now guard against infection by bacteriophage T5

In the past, a researcher may have lost an Escherichia coli culture to a phage infection and just chalked it up to a failed transformation or inoculation. According to Heather Lustig, marketing manager for Life Technologies of Rockville, Md., bacteriophage contamination didn't really become a major concern until genome centers began sequencing large numbers of clones in parallel. Whereas good sterile technique averts contamination by many microbiological culprits, some bacteriophage are airborne and thus present a particular challenge. As Life Technologies' principal scientist, Fred Bloom, points out, "Bacteriophage can destroy your genomic stock and wipe out years and years of work." At the request of customers, Life Technologies recently released a bacteriophage T1-resistant version of its popular MAX Efficiency DH5a Competent Cells.

Product development began when scientists at Life Technologies isolated a...