Detection, isolation and characterization of phage-host complexes using BONCAT and click chemistry

Applying this approach to environmental samples would enable host screening without cultivation. A flexible and powerful workflow for the detection and enrichment of phages and their hosts in pure cultures has been established. The developed method lays the groundwork for future workflows that could enable the isolation of phage-host complexes from diverse complex microbial communities using fluorescence-activated cell sorting or biotin purification. The ability to expand and customize the workflow through the growing range of compounds for CC offers the potential to develop a versatile toolbox in phage research. This work provides a starting point for these further studies by providing a comprehensive standard operating procedure.