We calculated the titer by counting the number of individual plaques on our 20-200 plate (Figure 3). Our plate had 110 plaques, so we plugged that value into the formula to calculate the titer to get 1.1 x 10^10 pfu/mL.
Sorry, I forgot to answer the second part to your question. A higher concentration gives us a better possibility that we are isolating DNA that can be seen with a quality control gel. When the concentration isn’t high enough, the gel will come back empty (inconclusive).
The length of the tail is one of the main factors used to determine the type of phage, which we had a siphoviridae phage. Tail length also has a part to play in specificity with being able to infect bacteria. Knowing the type of phage helps with determining its potential usage in the future.
We calculated our titer by counting the number of plaques on our 20-200 plate (Figure 3). However, before we got there, we spotted dilutions of our HTL from 10^-1-10^-8 dilutions in order to determine which dilution would yield individual plaques. From the results in figure 2, we ultimately plated the 10^-5-10^-8 dilutions, and the plate with the 10^-6 dilution is what gave us a 20-200 plate. We then counted 110 plaques, and plugged that value into the formula to calculate the titer. We ultimately got a titer of 1.x 10^10 pfu/mL.
Lytic phages insert their genetic material through their tail. This is a major part in what makes phages specific because there are different types of phages (siphoviridae, myoviridae…).
How did you calculate the titer of your phage? Why does your high concentration mean a higher success of a quality control gel?
We calculated the titer by counting the number of individual plaques on our 20-200 plate (Figure 3). Our plate had 110 plaques, so we plugged that value into the formula to calculate the titer to get 1.1 x 10^10 pfu/mL.
Sorry, I forgot to answer the second part to your question. A higher concentration gives us a better possibility that we are isolating DNA that can be seen with a quality control gel. When the concentration isn’t high enough, the gel will come back empty (inconclusive).
You mentioned the length and diameter of your phage’s tail. What impact does this have on your results or the testing in general, if any?
The length of the tail is one of the main factors used to determine the type of phage, which we had a siphoviridae phage. Tail length also has a part to play in specificity with being able to infect bacteria. Knowing the type of phage helps with determining its potential usage in the future.
Great poster! I was also wondering how you calculated the titer of your phage and the other methods behind that?
We calculated our titer by counting the number of plaques on our 20-200 plate (Figure 3). However, before we got there, we spotted dilutions of our HTL from 10^-1-10^-8 dilutions in order to determine which dilution would yield individual plaques. From the results in figure 2, we ultimately plated the 10^-5-10^-8 dilutions, and the plate with the 10^-6 dilution is what gave us a 20-200 plate. We then counted 110 plaques, and plugged that value into the formula to calculate the titer. We ultimately got a titer of 1.x 10^10 pfu/mL.
Hey Emma, great presentation. Is there a specific mechanism or name of the way of how lytic phages insert their genetic material
Lytic phages insert their genetic material through their tail. This is a major part in what makes phages specific because there are different types of phages (siphoviridae, myoviridae…).