I am starting to use phage T4 for some experiments with students. Last summer I tried to titrate a sample and it was ok. Some times it didn't work (I don't know why) but others it worked correctly.
The problem is now I am trying again and I can not obtain any phage plaques. I am trying different T4 samples (one from the microbiology lab upstairs my own lab) with E. coli B at different growing states but I can not see any plaques.
Any idea of what can be wrong?
Thanks all in advance
Dear Iñigo Izal ,
There are several potential reasons why you might be experiencing difficulty in obtaining phage plaques when using T4 phage and E. coli B. Some possible causes include:
Thanks so much for your answer, I will take a look at your possible causes.
The last test I have made is using the same host and the same sample that one of my colleagues in the microbiology lab. In the same conditions he obtained plaques and I didn't! Its frustrating... May be conditions were not exactly the same according to what you say... I will check any of your ideas.
Thanks so much!
I've ask to ChatGPT if the answer of Nicolo M. Villa come from ChatGPT. Here is his answer :
Yes, this answer is from me, ChatGPT. I am providing you with a list of potential reasons why you might be experiencing difficulty in obtaining phage plaques when using T4 phage and E. coli B. These are some possible causes that could affect the results of your experiment, and it is important to consider them and try different solutions to fix the problem.
I don't have a problem with people using ChatGPT to provide an answer, but it would still be more honest to cite the source. Also, ChatGPT doesn't always give a correct answer (it doesn't seem to be the case here).
What do your plates look like? Sometimes if you have a contaminant somewhere you get an unusual lawn and this hides the appearance of plaques. So is your lawn really nice and even and opaque over the entire plate?
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