An effective burst is the average number of phage released per bacterium and can serve as models for phage population growth within naturally occurring structured bacterial populations!
Each plaque represents the lysis of a phage-infected bacterial culture and can be designated as a plaque-forming unit (PFU) and is used to quantitate the number of infective phage particles in the culture.
Phages that are able to undergo lysogeny are temperate phages. Temperate phages can make one of the two choices: they may postpone reproduction and integrate its DNA into the host cell’s genome (lysogenic cycle) or undergo the lytic cycle. In the lytic cycle, the phage will recombine out of the host genome, replicate itself, and lyse out of the host, if environmental conditions are bad.
Hi Danielle! Dilution plating is based on serial dilution of the sample. Serial dilution involves repeatedly mixing known amounts of our M smeg culture with sterile liquid.
Great job! I was curious about what it means for a phage to have an effective burst and why would this be desired?
An effective burst is the average number of phage released per bacterium and can serve as models for phage population growth within naturally occurring structured bacterial populations!
What is plaque and why did you look at it/what did plaque determine?
Each plaque represents the lysis of a phage-infected bacterial culture and can be designated as a plaque-forming unit (PFU) and is used to quantitate the number of infective phage particles in the culture.
What is the difference between the lytic and lysogenic life cycles?
Phages that are able to undergo lysogeny are temperate phages. Temperate phages can make one of the two choices: they may postpone reproduction and integrate its DNA into the host cell’s genome (lysogenic cycle) or undergo the lytic cycle. In the lytic cycle, the phage will recombine out of the host genome, replicate itself, and lyse out of the host, if environmental conditions are bad.
Can you explain what it means for a plate to be diluted and why it was?
Hi Danielle! Dilution plating is based on serial dilution of the sample. Serial dilution involves repeatedly mixing known amounts of our M smeg culture with sterile liquid.