Viral plaque

M. smegmatis plaque

== Viral Plaque ==

A viral plaque is a visible area of damage on a cell culture or tissue culture caused by the infection and replication of viruses. These plaques are commonly used in virology to quantify the number of viral particles in a sample and to measure the effectiveness of antiviral treatments.

Formation

When a virus infects a cell in a culture, it hijacks the cellular machinery to replicate itself. As the virus spreads to neighboring cells, it causes cell death and lysis, creating a clear area, or plaque, in the cell monolayer. Each plaque represents a single infectious viral particle that initiated the infection.

Uses

Viral plaques are used in various assays to study viral behavior, such as determining the titer of a viral stock, assessing the cytopathic effect of a virus, and screening for antiviral compounds. By counting the number of plaques formed under specific conditions, researchers can calculate the viral titer and evaluate the efficacy of antiviral agents.

Measurement

To quantify viral plaques, researchers typically stain the cell monolayer with a dye, such as crystal violet or neutral red, which highlights the areas of cell death. The plaques can then be visualized and counted under a microscope to determine the viral titer.

Conclusion

In conclusion, viral plaques are valuable tools in virology for studying viral infections and assessing antiviral treatments. By observing and quantifying the formation of plaques in cell cultures, researchers can gain insights into viral behavior and develop strategies to combat viral diseases.