please answer as detailed as possible if applicable. thank you! Náme Section: Da
ID: 277670 • Letter: P
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please answer as detailed as possible if applicable. thank you!
Náme Section: Date BMS 504 General Microbiology Laboratory Laboratory 14 Questions - Bacteriophage assay 1. What causes the formation of plaques in a bacteriophage assay? What is the purpose of having a "hard agar" base in the plaque forming unit assay? Which factors might account for the specificity of certain bacteriophages to infect only certain bacteria? 2. 3. 4. Since bacteriophages only infect and destroy bacterial cells, might it be possible to use bacteriophages to treat bacterial diseases in humans? Why?Explanation / Answer
1. In a bacteriophage assay the formation of plaques occurrs because the bacteriophage (a virus specific for bacteria) infects the bacteria, then it replicates and causes the death of the bacteria. Then the newly replicated bacteriophages will infect and kill the sourrounding bacteria, until it is visible to our naked eye (this means without the need of any apparatus that amplify the vision).
2. The purpose of having a hard agar is having a base layer for the growth of the bacterias, so it is the habitat necessary for the bacteria, and the soft agar allows an easy diffusion of the bacteriophage so it can infect the bacteria.
3. Factors are different habitat (that is the abotic conditions of a place), and host (the specific bacteria infected).
4. Bacteriophages could be use to treat bacterial diseases in humans as they only infect specific bacteria,because another cell on the body would not be in danger, and neither would other beneficial bacteria that we have in our bodys. It will only attack the dangerous bacteria.
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