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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 21, 2026

Quantitative PCR of T7 Bacteriophage from Biopanning

Quantitative PCR of T7 Bacteriophage from Biopanning

Published on: September 27, 2018

Plating Bacteriophage M13.

Michael R Green, Joseph Sambrook

Cold Spring Harbor Protocols

|October 5, 2017

Summary

Bacteriophage M13 forms plaques by infecting bacteria in semisolid media. Infected cells grow slower, creating visible plaques on a faster-growing bacterial lawn within hours.

Area of Science:

Microbiology
Virology
Molecular Biology

Background:

Bacteriophage M13 is a virus that infects bacteria.
Phage plaques are visible areas formed by viral activity in a bacterial lawn.
Understanding plaque formation is crucial for viral stock titration and study.

Purpose of the Study:

To describe a protocol for plating bacteriophage M13 stocks.
To detail the conditions for plaque visualization.
To explain the biological basis of M13 plaque formation.

Main Methods:

Infecting single Escherichia coli cells with bacteriophage M13.
Culturing infected bacteria in semisolid medium (agar or agarose).
Incubating plates at 37°C for plaque development.

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Synthesis of Infectious Bacteriophages in an E. coli-based Cell-free Expression System

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Published on: August 17, 2017

Main Results:

Bacteriophage M13 plaques are formed by slower-growing infected cells.
Limited diffusion of progeny viruses in semisolid media facilitates plaque formation.
Plaques are detectable within 4-8 hours of incubation.

Conclusions:

The described protocol allows for reliable plating and visualization of bacteriophage M13 plaques.
M13 plaques serve as indicators of viral infection and replication.
This method is essential for quantifying bacteriophage M13 stocks.