Enhancement of varicella-zoster virus plaquing efficiency with an agarose overlay medium.
Krah DL, Schofield TL, Provost PJ.
Department of Virus and Cell Biology, Merck Sharp and Dohme Research Laboratories, West Point, PA 19486.
The infectivity titers of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) are routinely estimated by plaque production in cell culture. In this report, we show that plaque counts for VZV (strain Oka/Merck), in MRC-5 cell cultures, are significantly enhanced (54% average enhancement) by the use of an agarose overlay medium, as compared to a fluid overlay medium. Evidence also is presented that less variability (P less than 0.05) in plaque counts occurs with the use of an agarose overlay medium.
PMID: 2157731 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]