The plaque assay allows researchers to visually confirm the presence of phage particles in a sample. It is a multifunctional test that can be used for phage isolation, purification, and titration. In the plaque assay, host bacteria are mixed with a phage sample and grown on agar as a lawn. If phages are present, they will infect and replicate within the bacterial host, killing the host in the process. The newly replicated phage spreads in the agar and repeats the process of infection, replication, and lysis of nearby host bacteria. As a result, visible circular clearance or killing areas called plaque will become apparent on the bacterial lawn. Note that each plaque is derived from a single phage particle in the original phage sample. Some plaques are large and clear, so they are easy to identify, while some plaques may be difficult to see because they are small or very cloudy. More importantly, air bubbles or incorrectly set-top agar are often mistaken for plaques. Therefore, plaques that look ambiguous should always be tested to confirm that they are caused by bacteriophages.
Plaque analysis is a technique for purifying virus populations and can also be used to determine the virus concentration of a given sample. At Creative Biolabs, our scientists can provide high-quality services to meet your needs. Our services are listed as follows, but are not limited to:
Creative Biolabs can meet the needs of customers for providing plaque assay services on time and on budget. Our skilled and dedicated scientific researchers ensure that the most suitable methods and techniques are selected for each professional for your project. If necessary, please feel free to contact us.
Please kindly note that our services can only be used to support research purposes (Not for clinical use).
Creative Biolabs is a globally recognized phage company. Creative Biolabs is committed to providing researchers with the most reliable service and the most competitive price.
