Whole Genome Amplification of Single Bacterial Cells

Recent developments in whole genome amplification techniques mean that it is now feasible to amplify enough DNA from just a single bacterial cell for downstream applications such as genome sequencing. As a result, single cell genomics is conceptually appealing as it can be used to characterise microbes without a prior requirement to cultivate them in the laboratory. While whole genome amplification methods are hugely powerful it is important to acknowledge that each approach also has inherent limitations, which impact on the quality of the resulting amplified DNA. In this chapter we discuss the various options available for whole genome amplification, and provide a standard protocol for whole genome amplification from individual bacterial cells. We also give a brief overview of the various steps involved in isolating single bacterial cells from mixed microbial communities, and in preparing them for genomic analyses.