Cosmid library of the turkey herpesvirus genome constructed from nanogram quantities of viral DNA associated with an excess of cellular DNA.

A protocol was designed for the rapid and efficient construction of cosmid libraries from cell-associated viral genomes available in very low quantities. Purification of viral DNA from cellular DNA was unnecessary. The vast excess of cellular DNA compensated for the limited amount of available viral DNA, enabling titration of the restriction endonuclease partial digest. A cosmid library of the turkey herpesvirus DNA genome was constructed from 1.5 micrograms of cellular DNA containing approximately 6 nanograms of viral DNA.