
doi: 10.1007/bf02872695
pmid: 4185978
Our investigations to detect naturally lysogenic strains of mycobacteria were limited to 1 strain ofMycobacterium smegmatis, 4 strains ofMycobacterium borstelense var.niacinogenes, and to 5 strains ofMycobacterium marinum (Syn:Mycobacterium balnei), all together 10 strains. They were chosen because as a sign of lysis they secrete a large quantity of cytoplasmatic components (nucleic acids proteins, amino acids etc.) into the fluid medium (for instance phosphate buffer), in which they are suspended. In a first series of experiments culture filtrates were tested on 84 strains of slowly and rapidly growingMycobacterium species as indicator strains. Using this method free phage particles were only found in the culture filtrate of 1 strain,Mycobacterium smegmatis SN 46, isolated from a patient with achalasia. Phage particles could not be found in the filtrates of the other 9 probably lysogenic strains. In a second series of experiments more closely related indicator strains were used. The 10 probably lysogenic strains were cultured in bovine serum or antiphage-antiserum containing medium and single selected colony cultures a small part of which showed sensitivity to the filtrates. The released and adapted phages, designated as B24, B30, B32, B33, B34 and B35 have a very narrow host range. The plaques are very small and turbid. On electron micrographs the temperate phages B24, B30 and B35 exhibit the typical head-tail morphology. The head of the temperateborstelense var.niacinogenes phage B30 is 45 nm in diameter, the tength of tail is about, 120nm. The average dimensions of the long head ofsmegmatis phage B24 are 40 × 80 nm, the tail is about 160 nm long. The balnei phage B35 is very similar morphologically to phage B30. The head is about 50 nm in diameter, the length of tail about 160 nm. The phage sensitive variants are not “carrier” strains. Their phage sensitivity is not a stable property. After several culture passages in serum-free medium the variants regain their phage immunity completely and release phages like the lysogenic parent strains. The sensitive variants must therefore be considered to be also lysogenic. TheMycobacterium borstelense var.niacinogenes phages are serologically very related.
Genetics, Microbial, Microscopy, Electron, Biometry, Dihydrostreptomycin Sulfate, Animals, Mycobacteriophages, Rabbits, Lysogeny, Antibodies, Mycobacterium, Viomycin
Genetics, Microbial, Microscopy, Electron, Biometry, Dihydrostreptomycin Sulfate, Animals, Mycobacteriophages, Rabbits, Lysogeny, Antibodies, Mycobacterium, Viomycin
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 12 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Average | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Top 10% | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Average |
