In: Biology
what does testing a mutant virus versus a wildtype virus tell you in an experiment? can you provide an example figure of western blot and give explanation as to what I'm looking at? why would a researcher mutate the bacteria of which the virus infects? What would that tell you?
Testing a mutant virus versus a wildtype virus would serve the purpose of identifying different viral antigens/proteins. Antigens/proteins from mutant vs. wildtype virus would definitely vary. This can help in antibody detection, identifying antibodies that would react to certain or bind to these proteins.
Since western blot is a technique to identify and separate proteins, the pattern from mutant virus proteins would be different from the wildtype virus's proteins.Upon running the proteins in the gel and transferring them to an immbolized surface followed by reaction with antibody, can help in determining which antibody binds to which proteins.
Mutating the bacteria can help in generating varied defenses that can help or slow down viral invasion of the bacteria. For example, mutation that affects bacterial surface receptors can help prevent viral attachment to the bacteria, the first mode by which a viral invasion starts.A mutation impacting bacterial membrane proteins can help prevent injection of viral DNA into the bacterial cell.