How Do You Spell PLAQUE ASSAY?

Pronunciation: [plˈak ɐsˈe͡ɪ] (IPA)

The spelling of "Plaque Assay" is distinct, and perfectly captures the pronunciation of the word. "Plaque" is pronounced as /plæk/, with the "a" being short and the "q" being silent. "Assay," on the other hand, is pronounced as /əˈseɪ/, with a schwa sound in the first syllable, an "s" sound in the second, and the sound "/eɪ/" in the last syllable. The words come together to form a technical term commonly used in microbiology to quantify the number of viral particles present in a sample.

PLAQUE ASSAY Meaning and Definition

1. Plaque Assay is a laboratory technique used to quantify and estimate the concentration of infectious viral particles, also known as viral titration, in a given sample. It is particularly employed for studying the infectivity and replication capabilities of viruses.

   During a plaque assay, a monolayer of susceptible host cells, such as eukaryotic cells, is grown in a culture dish or petri dish. A series of dilutions of the viral sample is then prepared and added to the cell monolayer, allowing the virus to infect the cells. After an appropriate incubation period, a semisolid medium such as agar is overlaid on the cells, limiting the spread of the virus to the immediate vicinity of the infected cells.

   Over time, infected cells undergo a series of replication cycles, resulting in the formation of visible plaques, which are areas of cell death and destruction. Each plaque arises from a single infectious viral particle. By counting and calculating the number of plaques formed, scientists can determine the concentration of viral particles present in the original sample. This enables the quantification of viral titer, which is important for understanding the viral growth kinetics, evaluating the efficacy of antiviral agents, and studying the mechanisms of viral pathogenesis.

   Plaque assay is a widely utilized technique in virology and has contributed significantly to the understanding of viral infections and the development of antiviral therapies.

Common Misspellings for PLAQUE ASSAY

• olaque assay
• llaque assay
• -laque assay
• 0laque assay
• pkaque assay
• ppaque assay
• poaque assay
• plzque assay
• plsque assay
• plwque assay
• plqque assay
• pla1ue assay
• pla2ue assay
• plawue assay
• plaaue assay
• plaqye assay
• plaqhe assay
• plaqje assay
• plaqie assay
• plaq8e assay

Etymology of PLAQUE ASSAY

The word "plaque" in "plaque assay" comes from its original meaning in French, which refers to a flat, thin piece of metal, stone, or other suitable material used as an Ornament or commemorative tablet. In the context of virology, a plaque refers to a clear area on a lawn of bacteria or cell monolayer caused by the lysis of cells by virus particles. The term "plaque assay" was coined to describe a technique used to determine the concentration of infectious viral particles in a sample. It involves infecting a monolayer of suitable cells with a known dilution of the virus, allowing the infected cells to undergo lysis, and then staining the resulting plaques to visualize and count them.