PHAGE ISOLATED FROM LYSOGENIC BACILLUS ANTHRACIS.

Abstract

Buck, C. A. (Kansas State University, Manhattan), R. L. Anacker, F. S. Newman, and A. Eisenstark. Phage isolated from lysogenic Bacillus anthracis. J. Bacteriol. 85:1423-1430. 1963.-Bacillus anthracis cultures (a total of 311) were obtained from several laboratories throughout the world; 139 of these were screened for the presence of lysogenic organisms. Phage particles were obtained from 25 of these cultures. The host range of five of these phages, plus that of phage gamma, was tested against 246 B. anthracis cultures plus 64 other Bacillus strains. The results show that phage might be useful in the identification of B. anthracis, although two non-B. anthracis cultures were lysed. Also, the diversity of host range indicated that a phage-typing scheme for epidemiological studies might be feasible. Several lysogenic cultures were sensitive to the phage that they liberated, indicating a dismune phenomenon. Also, some lysogenic cells liberated two distinct kinds of phage. Other phage properties, such as morphology, plaque morphology, burst time, and serological relationship, are described.