- [Effect of temperature on the dynamics of interaction of Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus with host bacteria]. Afinogenova, A.V., Lambina, V.A. (1977). Mikrobiologiia 46:741-745. The dynamics of the interaction between Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus and the host bacterium was found to depend on temperature. The maximum rate of infection was found at 37 degrees C. The maximum yield of Bdellovibrio and the maximum lysis of the host cells occurred at 22.5 degrees C. The cardinal points, at which no interaction was observed, have been determined. It is concluded that B. bacteriovorus belongs to mesophilis microorganisms. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Coliphages in sewage and the marine environment. Ayres, P.A. (1977). pp. 275-298. In In Skinner, F.A. and Shewan, J.M. (eds.), Aquatic Microbiology. Academy Press, New York, New York. No abstract. [TOP OF PAGE]
- [Characteristics of phages of spore-forming bacteria isolated from the soil]. Azizbekian, R.R., Bogdanova, T.L., Minenkova, I.B., Mikhailov, A.A., Smirnov, V.B. (1977). Mikrobiologiia 46:554-559. Phages lyzing spore forming bacteria were isolated from soil, and their biological properties and fine structure were studied. The spectrum of lytic activity was determined as well as parameters of the intracellular phage growth. The burst size of the phage varies from 8 to 725 particles per infected cell, the latent period lasts 25-100 min for various phages. According to the data of electron microscopy, the phages are divided into three morphological groups. The phages Tg7, AR13 and BPP10 have a complex structure. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Biosynthesis of the outer membrane receptor for vitamin B12, E colicins, and bacteriophage BF23 by Escherichia coli: kinetics of phenotypic expression after the introduction of bfe+ and bfe alleles. Bassford, P.J.J., Kadner, R.J., Schnaitman, C.A. (1977). J. Bacteriol. 129:265-275. The bfe locus codes for the cell surface receptor for vitamin B12, the E colicins, and bacteriophage BF23 in the Escherichia coli outer membrane. When the bfe+ allele, which is closely linked to the argH locus, was introduced into an argH bfe recipient by conjugation, arg+ recombinant cells rapidly and simultaneously acquired sensitivity to colicin E3 and phage BF23. In the reciprocal experiment introducing bfe into an argH bfe+ recipient, it was found that colicin E3-resistant, arg+ cells began to appear shortly after the arg+ recombinant population began to divide. This was far earlier than would have been predicted on the basis of 220 receptors per haploid cell. Moreover, there was a lag between the appearance of colicin resistance and the appearance of resistance to killing by phage BF23, and hence a period of time during which some arg+ recombinant cells were sensitive to the phage but resistant to the colicin. Colicin E3 added to cells during this period of time protected against phage killing, indicating that the colicin-resistant cells still had receptors capable of binding colicin on their surface. The modification of the phenotypic expression of colicin and phage resistance by inhibitors of deoxyribonucleic acid, ribonucleic acid, and protein synthesis was also investigated. The results obtained indicate that the receptor protein coded for by the bfe locus can exist on the cell surface in several different functional states. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Outer membrane proteins of Escherichia coli VI. Protein alteration in bacteriophage-resistant mutants. Bassford, P.J.jr., Diedrich, D.L., Schnaitman, C.L., Reeves, P. (1977). J. Bacteriol. 131:608-622. Protein 1 was shown to be the receptor for phage PA-2 by the observation that the purified protein inactivates the phage, mutants lacking the protein are resistant to the phage, and mutants selected for PA-2 resistance have altered protein. Protein 1 appears as two bands (1a and 1b) on high-resolution polyacrylamide gels. The most abundant classes of mutants (ParI and ParII) selected for PA-2 resistance were found to lack band 1b. The mutations responsible for the ParI and ParII phenotypes were mapped at a locus termed par, which is near nalA on the Escherichia coli chromosome. The cyanogen bromide peptides of proteins 1a and 1b are similar, suggesting that these bands represent modified band 1b. When a par tolF double mutant was constructed, this strain produced only band 1a. These results suggest that genes at the par and tolF loci are involved in modification of protein 1, or regulation of such modification, and are not structural genes for protein 1. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Polysaccharide capsule of Escherichia coli: microscope study of its size, structure, and sites of synthesis. Bayer, M.E., Thurow, H. (1977). J. Bacteriol. 130:911-936. This report describes the structure, size, and shape of the uncollapsed polysaccharide capsule of Escherichia coli strain Bi 161/42 [O9:K29(A):H-], its ultrastructural preservation as well as the filamentous components of the isolated capsular material. In a temperature-sensitive mutant, sites were localized at which capsular polysaccharide is "exporte"d to the cell surface. The highly hydrated capsule of the wild-type cells was visible in the uncollapsed state after freeze-etching, whereas dehydration in greater than or equal to 50% acetone or alcohol caused the capsule to collapse into thick bundles. This was prevented by pretreatment of the cell with capsule-specific immunoglobulin G; the capsule appeared as a homogeneous layer of 250- to 300-nm thickness. The structural preservation depended on the concentration of the anti-capsular immunoglobulin G. Temperature-sensitive mutants, unable to produce capsular antigen at elevated temperatures, showed, 10 to 15 min after shift down to permissive temperature, polysaccharide strands with K29 specificity appearing at the cell surface at roughly 20 sites per cell; concomitantly, capsule-directed antibody started to agglutinate the bacteria. The sites at which the new antigen emerged were found in random distribution over the entire surface of the organism. Spreading of purified polysaccharide was achieved on air-water interfaces; after subsequent shadow casting with heavy metal, filamentous elements were observed with a smallest class of filaments measuring 250 nm in length and 3 to 6 nm in width. At one end these fibers revealed a knoblike structure of about 10-nm diameter. The slimelike polysaccharides from mutants produced filamentous bundles of greater than 100-microns length, with antigenic and phage-receptor properties indistinguishable from those of the wild-type K29 capsule antigen. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Mutants of Escherichia coli "cryptic" for certain periplasmic enzymes: evidence for an alteration of the outer membrane. Beacham, I.R., Haas, D., Yagil, E. (1977). J. Bacteriol. 129:1034-1044. Mutants in which the expression of periplasmic enzymes by whole cells is reduced (termed "cryptic") are also found to show greatly reduced uptake of labeled adenosine 5'-monophosphate (5'-AMP), providing a rapid assay for crypticity. The crypticity of 3'- and 5'-nucleotidase has been examined as a function of substrate concentration. The Km for 3'- or 5'-AMP increases in the cryptic mutants when whole cells are used as the enzyme source. The Vmax is not altered. Electrophoretic analysis of protein prepared from cell envelopes showed that three cryptic mutants have a polypeptide absent from the outer membrane and a relatively high proportion of a polypeptide in the inner membrane. Analysis of the molar ratios of constituent sugars of the lipopolysaccharides showed no differences between three cryptic mutants and the parent strain. One cryptic mutant (3--41), however, has altered sensitivity to phage T4. By selection for phage resistance, derivatives of the cryptic mutants that are deoxycholate sensitive have been obtained. These mutants are no longer cryptic. We suggest that cryptic mutants have an altered outer membrane, with decreased permeability to 3'- and 5'-AMP, as a result of an altered polypeptide. [TOP OF PAGE]
- RADIATION INACTIVATION OF T7 PHAGE. Becker, D.S. (1977). ILLINOIS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY. [TOP OF PAGE]
- On the dynamics of host-parasite-hyperparasite interactions. Beddington, J.R., Hammond, P.S. (1977). J. Anim. Ecol. 46:811-821. [TOP OF PAGE]
- La classification des actinophages. Berthiaume, L., Ackermann, H.-W. (1977). Pathol. Biol. 25:195-??? [TOP OF PAGE]
- Technique for isolating phage for Azotobacter vinelandii. Bishop, P.E., Supiano, M.A., Brill, W.J. (1977). Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 33:1007-??? [TOP OF PAGE]
- Protection of viruses during disinfection by adsorption to particulate matter. Boardman, G.D., Sproul, O.J. (1977). Journal / Water Pollution Control Federation 49:1857-1861. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Use of bacteriophage nucleic acid inducers of interferon in man. [Review] [35 refs]. Borecky, L. (1977). Texas Reports on Biology & Medicine 35:535-540. The interest in therapeutic exploration of phage ds-RNAs is motivated by their antiviral and immunoregulatory activities. Preliminary studies in man indicate that topical application of native ds-RNAs represents no health-hazard to patients and may be beneficial in the therapy of viral skin and eye diseases. [References: 35]. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Introduction of bacteriophage Mu into Pseudomonas solanacearium and Rhizobium meliloti using hte R factor RP4. Boucher, C., Bergeron, B., Barate de Bertalmio, M., Dénarié, J. (1977). Journal of General Microbiology 98:253-??? [TOP OF PAGE]
- The electron microscopy of bacteriophage-like particles in dental plaque. Brady, J.M., Gray, W.A., Caldwell, M.A. (1977). Journal of Dental Research 56:991-993. The morphology of bacteriophage-like particles contained in samples of dental plaque is described. The phage-like particles were observed within fusiform-shaped bacteria and in clumps between bacteria. The particles were hexagonal in cross section, approximately 1,100 nm in diameter and contained an electron-dense core. In areas of cell lysis tail forms were observed both free and in association with the particles. Occasional particles were attached to bacterial cell walls by means of shortened tailpieces. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Defective bacteriophages and incomplete prophages. Campbell, A. (1977). pp. 259-328. In In Fraenkel-Conrat, H. and Wagner, R.R. (eds.), Comprehensive Virology 8. Plenum Press, [TOP OF PAGE]
- A complex community in a simple habitat: An experimental study with bacteria and phage. Chao, L., Levin, B.R., Stewart, F.M. (1977). Ecology 58:369-378. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Stability of bacteriophage type of Mycobacterium tuberculosis: absence of variation caused by experimental chemotherapy in mice and analysis of spontaneous variation. Clavel, S., Clement, F. (1977). AMERICAN REVIEW OF RESPIRATORY DISEASE 115:443-447. The bacteriophage typing of 54 strains isolated from the tissues of mice infected with the strain H37Rv of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and treated with isonazid and rifampin showed that the bacteriophage type did not change. The fluctuation analysis of populations of the tubercle bacilli demonstrated that the rate of mutation from sensitivity to resistance in respect to the bacteriophage DS6A was less than 1.3 X 10(-8) mutations per bacterium per generation. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Inactivation of receptors for bacteriophage T5 during infection of Escherichia coli B. Dunn, G.B., Duckworth, D.H. (1977). J. Virol. 24:419-421. During infection of Escherichia coli by bacteriophage T5, the cell surface receptors for the phage were inactivated so that they could not be isolated from the infected cells. A mutant of T5 that could only inject 8% of the T5 DNA did not cause the inactivation. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Lysogenic conversion for multiple characters in a strain of Staphylococcus aureus. Duval-Iflah, Y., van Heijenoort, J., Rousseau, M., Raibaud, P. (1977). J. Bacteriol. 130:1281-??? [TOP OF PAGE]
- Reproductive fitness of P-1 lysogn, phage P-2 lysogen and Mu lysogen of Escherichia coli. Edlin, G., Lin, L., Bitner, R. (1977). J. Virol. 21:560-564. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Field studies on coliphages and coliforms as indicators of airborne animal viral contamination from wastewater treatment facilities. Fannin, K.F., Gannon, J.J., Cochran, K.W., Spendlove, J.C. (1977). Water Res. 11:181-188. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Effect of light on Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus. Friedberg, D. (1977). J. Bacteriol. 131:399-404. Bdellovibrio underwent photooxidation by visible light in the presence of exogenous photosensitizer and by near-ultraviolet light (325 to 400 nm) in its absence. The colorless, host-dependent wild type was more sensitive to the lethal effect of light than was its pigmented, facultative parasitic mutant. The latter's ability to form colonies was much more sensitive to light than was its plaque-forming capability. The biosynthesis of the mutant pigment was inhibited by diphenylamine, though this inhibition did not result in additional sensitivity to photokilling. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Les Bactériophages de Serratia et bactéries voisines. Grimont, F. (1977). Université de Bordeaux II, Bordeaux, France. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Comparison of methods for demonstrating coliphages in waters. Grunnet, K. (1977). Rev. Int. Oceanogr. 48:17-19. [TOP OF PAGE]
- [Study of marine microvibrios of Roscoff (Microvibrio marinus roscoffensis)]. Guelin, A., Michoustina, I.E., Goulevskaya, S.A., Petchnikov, N.V., Ledova, L.A. (1977). COMPTES RENDUS HEBDOMADAIRES DES SEANCES DE L ACADEMIE DES SCIENCES. 284:2171-2174. Marine microvibrios, predators of E. coli, have been detected worldwide, from equatorial waters to the polar regions. The morphology and behavior of two microvibrios have been studied. Their multiplication and aggressiveness in regard to their bacterial prevy are not impeded by dialysis membranes and manifest themselves, away from all direct contact between the predator and its prey. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Chlamydiae (with phages), mycoplasmas, and rickettsia in Chesapeake Bay bivalves. Harshbarger, J.C., Chang, S.C., Otto, S.V. (1977). Science (Washington) 196:666-??? [TOP OF PAGE]
- The contribution of starter strains to the level of phage infection in a commercial cheese factory. Heap, H.A., Lawrence, R.C. (1977). N. Z. Dairy Sci. Technol. 12:213-218. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Detection and isolation of marine bacteriophage systems in the Southwestern part of the Pacific Ocean. Hidaka, T. (1977). Mem. Fac. Fish. Kagoshima Univ. 26:55-62. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Incidence and properties of temperate bacteriophages induced from lactic streptococci. Huggins, A.R., Sandine, W.E. (1977). Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 33:184-191. Sixty-three strains of lactic streptococci isolated from commercial lactic streptococcal starter cultures were examined for lysogeny by treatment with ultraviolet light or mitomycin C. After treatment with the inducing agent, all strains, whether or not they lysed, were examined for evidence of phage release by electron microscopy. Thirty-eight strains yielded intact phages or phage particles of varying morphology. All the temperate pahges had isometric heads and noncontractile tails; some had collars and structurally distinctive baseplates. Indicator host strains were found for phages induced from seven different strains. Three strains that released phages spontaneously yielded titers of 103 to 104 plaque-forming units per ml. When strains that spontaneously released phages were grown in mixed culture with indicator strains, increased phage titers of 106 to 107 plaque-forming units per ml were observed. These findings indicate that lysogenic lactic streptococcal strains may serve as a reservoir for phages that attack sensitive strains in mixed- or multiple-strain lactic starter cultures. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Methods of monitoring bacteriophage in cheese factories. Hull, R.R. (1977). Aust. J. Dairy Technol. 32:63-64. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Control of bacteriophages in cheese factories. Hull, R.R. (1977). Aust. J. Dairy Technol. 32:65-66. [TOP OF PAGE]
- [Method for culturing Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus on an agar gel]. Ibragimov, F.K.H. (1977). Gigiena i Sanitariia 60-61. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Succession of Streptococcus bovis strains with differing bacteriophage sensitivities in the rumens of two fistulated sheep. Iverson, W.G., Millis, N.F. (1977). Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 33:810-813. The bacteriophage sensitivity of the Streptococcus bovis population resident in the ruments of two fistulated sheep was monitored for 112 days. During this time, three changes in the bacteriophage sensivity of S. bovis occurred in the absence of detectable bacteriophages. Identical changes in bacteriophage sensitivity occurred simultaneously in both animals and, except for the relatively short periods of changeover in phage sensitivity, the S. bovis population in the rumens of the two sheep was homogeneous with respect to phage sensitivity. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Host modification and restriction with a mycobacteriophage isolated from a pseudolysogenic Mycobacterium chelonei. Jones, W.D.J., Greenberg, J. (1977). Journal of General Microbiology 99:389-395. A pseudolysogenic Mycobacterium chelonei and its phage phi630 are described. Phage phi630 is the first mycobacteriophate reported to be resistant to the nonpolar solvents chloroform, dioxan and diethyl ether. The phage had a latent period of 75 min, a rise period of 90 min and a burst size of 5I. Evidence is presented for host modification and restriction. Phage phi630A, grown on host strain M. chelonei F-630 Rg, plated on the alternative host M. smegmatis ATCC607 with an efficiency of plating (e.o.p.) of 10(-5). Phage phi630B, grown on host M. smegmatis, plated with an e.o.p. of 10(-5) on the alternative host F-630 Rg. Phages phi630A and phi630B absorbed equally well on their alternative hosts and on their indicator host strains. The progeny of plaques from initial platings on the alternative host, when grown in the alternative host, exhibited a marked reduction in e.o.p. on their original host. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Isolation and characterization of a lambdapolA transducing phage. Kelley, W.S., Chalmers, K., Murray, N.E. (1977). Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 74:5632-5636. A plaque-forming lambdapolA phage was isolated from a population of transducing phage made in vitro from Escherichia coli DNA and a phage vector digested with restriction endonuclease HindIII. Amber mutations, in genes whose products are necessary for late protein synthesis (Q) and cell lysis (S), were crossed into the lambdapolA phage. Infection of either polA+ or polA- bacteria with this phage, under conditions permitting DNA replication but preventing phage production and lysis, elevated the levels of DNA polymerase I to between 75- and 100-fold that detected in a wild-type strain. The kinetics of enzyme production suggest that the polA gene is transcribed from its own promoter rather than from any of the well-characterized phage promoters. The fragment of E. coli DNA within the lambdapolA phage comprises approximately 5000 base pairs, sufficient to accommodate the polA gene and one, or two, coding sequences for smaller proteins. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Bacteriophages infecting Micromonospora purpurea. Kikuchi, M., Perlman, D. (1977). J. Antiobiot. 30:423-??? [TOP OF PAGE]
- E. coli bacteriophages as tracers in water movement studies. Kinnunen, K.A.I., Niemela, S.I., Poikalainen, M.L. (1977). 3 Knabrostraede, DK-1210, Copenhagen K, Denmark, Publ. by: DIS Congress Service. Bacteriophages were first used as tracers in river water movement studies in 1968 (Niemela and Kinnunen, 1968). Since then the method has been developed further and experience shows the phage method to be well suited to the studies of river water movement and to measuring the traveling time of water in residential waste water plants and, in certain cases, to the marking of ground waters and of waste water moving through a lake. The main advantages of the phage method are: (1) The high concentration of the phage suspensions allows large amounts of water to be marked at one time. (2) The phages are harmless to the environment. (3) Owing to the host specificity, several phages can be used simultaneously and can be analyzed quantitatively from the same water samples. (4) The cultivation of the phage suspension and the analysis of the samples can be performed with equipment found in standard microbiological laboratories. The greatest disadvantage of the method is that separate samples must be taken and brought to the laboratory for quantitative analysis. The analysis yields results after 4 to 6 hours cultivation. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Some throughts concerning water pollution indicators. Kott, Y. (1977). Isr. J. Med. Sci. 13:646-647. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Antigenicity of bdellovibrios. Kramer, T.T., Westergaard, J.M. (1977). Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 33:967-970. Antigenic relationships between 12 locally isolated bdellovibrios and 3 established reference strains (109D, 6-5-S, and UKi2) were investigated. Antigenicity of the strains was examined by use of the micro-complement fixation test, the serum and complement bactericidal test, and the immunodiffusion test. Antisera were prepared against one of the local strains (MS7) and against one of the established reference strains (UKi2). The complement fixation titers suggest a close relationship among all strains. Immunodiffusion tests produced lines of identity between the homologous strain MS7 and all other strains. It is suggested on the basis of these results that bdellovibrio may possess a common antigen. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Host-dependent modification of bacteriophage T7 and SAMase-negative T3 derivatives affecting their adsorption ability. Krüger, D.H., Hansen, S., Schroeder, C., Presber, W. (1977). Mol. Gen. Genet. 153:107-110. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Chemotaxis toward amino acids by Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus. LaMarre, A.G., Straley, S.C., Conti, S.F. (1977). J. Bacteriol. 131:201-207. Chemotaxis toward amino acids by Bdellovibrio bacteriovorous strain UKi2 was studied by the capillary technique of Adler (J. Gen. Microbiol. 74:77-91, 1973). Chemotaxis was shown to be optimal when the capillaries were incubated at between 15 and 40 degrees C for 30 min; the optimal pH was between 7.0 and 8.2. The chemotactic response was proportional to the density of the suspension of bdellovibrios up to a density of 10(8) cells/ml. B. bacteriovorus was attracted to L-asparagine, L-cysteine, L-glutamine, glycine, L-histidine, L-lysine, and L-threonine. The possible roles of chemotaxis in the life of B. bacteriovorus are discussed. [TOP OF PAGE]
- The effects of temperature and ultraviolet irradiation on multiplication of bacteriophage phi29. Larcom, L.L., Thaker, N.H. (1977). Biophys. J. 19:299-306. The effects of temperature and of ultraviolet radiation on the multiplication of bacteriophage phi29 were studied. Samples of phi29 that had been irradiated to surviving fractions of 0.44 or 0.10 were propagated at 37 degrees C, 42 degrees C and 43.5 degrees C. Latent periods and burst sizes were obtained from one-step growth curves. At a particular temperature, as the dose delivered to the virus was increased, the latent period was extended and the burst size was decreased. For unirradiated virus, the burst size was the same at 42 degrees C as at 37 degrees C, but decreased dramatically at 43.5 degrees C. For virus subjected to a particular dose, the burst size decreased as the temperature was raised. A statistical technique for improving the reliability of parameters obtained from one-step growth curves is presented. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Resource limited growth, competition, and predation: A model and experimental studies with bacteria and bacteriophage. Levin, B.R., Stewart, F.M., Chao, L. (1977). Am. Nat. 111:3-24. We present a model of resource-limited population growth, competition, and predation based on what we believe to be biologically realistic assumptions about the relationship between resources and the growth of primary consumers and about the interaction of the primary consumers with the predators that prey upon them. Consideration is given to an equable habitat in which resources are continually supplied and wastes are continually removed. The general properties of this model are exmanined and two specific cases are studied in some detail: (i) one resource, one prey, and one predator, and (ii) one resource, two prey, and one predator. Particular consideration is given to the conditions which will permit the continued coexistance of the itneracting populations. In conceiving this model we were guided by the specific case of bactera and their virulent viruses. To study its validity we compare the theoretical predictions with the experimental results from continuous-culture populations of the bacterium E. coli and the phage T2. ¶ Structurally stable equilibria with all populations coexisting are possible when the number of distinct predator populations is not more than the number of distinct prey populations and the number of the latter is not more than the sum of the number of resources and the number of predator populations. ¶ For one resource, one prey, and one predator threre are stable states of coexistance. Given specific resource utilization functions, the levels of these equilibria or oscillations and the range of parameter values required for stability can be determined. ¶ In situations where a stable equilibrium exists for the one predator-one prey system, a second population of primary consumers which is totally resistant to predation can also be maintained. Sufficient conditions for this to occur are that the resistant population have a lower intrinsic growth rate than the sensitive but that the former can, nevertheless, survive and multiply living on the resources present in the one predator-one prey system. If, however, this second species of primary consumer becomes slightly sensitive to predation, it may then entirely displace the original sensitive population. ¶ Stable equilibria were observed in glusose minimal continuous cultures containing T2 sensitive E. coli B and T2 phage. The equilibrium concentration of glucose and the densities of the populations were similar to those predicted by the model. However, with the estimated values of the parameters, the experimental system fell in the range where the model predicted the oscillations would increase to the pont where the populations would eventually become extinct. ¶ Stable equilibria were also observed for a glucose-limited chemostat culture containing T2 phage together with a T2-sensitive clone of E. coli B and a T2-resistant strain of E. coli K12. This system fulfilled the conditions under which the theory predicts that stable coexistance will occur. ¶ We discuss the validity of this model as a general analogue of resource limited growth, competition, and predation in planktonoic species. We also consider the implications of these theoretical and experimental results for the general theory of competition and predation and for the specific problem of coexistance for bacteria and their virulent viruses. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Increased reproductive fitness of Escherichia coli lambda lysogens. Lin, L., Bitner, R., Edlin, G. (1977). J. Virol. 21:554-559. [TOP OF PAGE]
- The evolution of epistasis and the advantage of recombination in populations of bacteriophage T4. Malmberg, R.L. (1977). Genetics 86:607-??? [TOP OF PAGE]
- Dynamical aspects of host-parasite associations: Crofton's model revisited. May, R.M. (1977). Parasitology 75:259-276. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Interactions of bacterial viruses and bacterial genes with animal systems. Merril, C.R. (1977). pp. 83-96. In In Rubenstein, I., Phillips, R.L., Green, C.E., and Desnick, R.J. (eds.), Molecular Genetic Modification of Eucaryotes. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Bacteriophages in live virus vaccines: lack of evidence for effects on the genome of rhesus monkeys. Milstien, J.B., Walker, J.R., Petricciani, J.C. (1977). Science 197:469-470. Four juvenile rhesus monkeys were inoculated with 10(12) plaque-forming units of the bacteriophage phiV1 isolated from live virus vaccines. After phiV1 had been cleared from the blood, DNA's were isolated from the livers and kidneys and analyzed for the presence of bacteriophage by plaque assays, and for the presence of phiV1 DNA by DNA-DNA reassociation kinetics. No evidence was found for persistence of the bacteriophage or for replication of the phage genome in these rhesus monkeys. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Development of bacteriophage phi29 in sporulating and non-sporulating cells of bacillus subtilis 168. Moreno, F. (1977). ANNALES DE MICROBIOLOGIE 128B:3-18. Infection by bacteriophage phi29 of Bacillus subtilis 168 and of its asporogenous mutant spoOA-3NA has been studied in exponential and stationary phases. As first observed with phage phie infections, the burst-size decreases during the stationary phase much more rapidly in wild type than in mutant cells. In addition, the two strains are shown to differ even during growth in their response to phage phi29 infection. During a short period in the exponential phase, no phage production occurs when infected bacteria (whether spo+ or spo-) are incubated in their growth medium, but phage is produced when incubation takes place after transfer to fresh medium. From these and other unexpected findings it is concluded that any causal relation between sporulation and phage development must be considered with caution. Phage infection of spo+ cells at the end of the growth period does not affect the time required for mature spore formation. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Association of probable defective phage particles with lysis by bacteriophage AP50 in Bacillus anthracis. Nagy, E., Ivanovics, G. (1977). Journal of General Microbiology 102:215-219. [TOP OF PAGE]
- [Origin of plague moderate phages of serotype 2]. NOVOSEL'TSEV, N.N., Ryzhko, I.V., Kidreev, V.K. (1977). Zhurnal Mikrobiologii, Epidemiologii i Immunobiologii 111-115. Results of study of the negative colonies morphology, the structure of corpuscles, antigenic properties, specificity, and the action range permitted to refer the phages obtained from 18 E. coli strain, 1 plaque strain, and 1 pseudotoberculosis bacillus strain to the same group and to identify them with plague phages of serological type 2. Isolation of the same phage type from different bacterial species permits to regard them as "polyhosta"l ones. E. coli should be considered as the main carrier of phages belonging to serological type 2. It is suggested that phages existing on microbes belonging to different species should be called "polyhosta"l. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Characterization of group H streptococcal temperate bacteriophage phi 227. Nugent, K.M., Cole, R.M. (1977). J. Virol. 21:1061-1073. phi 227, a temperate phage from a group H streptococcus (Streptococcus sanguis), was propagated vegetatively in group H strain Wicky 4-EryR, and its characteristics were determined. A procedure dependent on multiplicity of infection, incubation time, and treatment of crude lysates with diatomaceous earth was found to optimize phage yield, resulting in titers of 1 X 10(10) to 2 X 10(10) PFU/ml. Without prior treatment with diatomaceous earth, subsequent purification procedures (methanol, ammonium sulfate, polyethylene glycol) gave recoveries of less than 1% of crude lysate titers. Adsorption of phi227 to host cells was relatively unaffected by the medium, but calcium (not substituted by magnesium) was required for formation of infectious centers. The phage receptor was present on purified cell walls, resisted trypsin and heat, and was removed ty hydrochloric acid, trichloracetic acid, and hot formamide: however, formamide-extracted material failed to inactivate phage, and the nature of the receptor is unknown. Single-step growth experiments showed a latent period of 39 min and a burst size of 100 PFU/infectious center; results were unaffected by omission of supplemental Ca2+, by supplementation with Mg2, addition of glucose, or changes of pH between 6.35 and 8.0; but increased temperature (40 to 43 degrees C) shortened the latent period and decreased the burst size. The latent period was prolonged in genetically competent host cells and in chemically defined medium; and in the latter, the burst size was smaller. Phage replication was sensitive to those metabolic inhibitors which inhibited the host streptococcus: these included rifampin, fluorodeoxyuridine, hydroxyurea, dihydrostreptomycin, and 6-P-hydroxyphenylazouracil. The data suggest that phi227 does not code for a rifampin-resistant RNA polymerase. However, in a rifampin-resistant host strain, phage replication and lysogen formation were both decreased suggesting that altered host core polymerase had less affinity for (some) promotors on the phi227 template. In transfection, a Ca2+-dependent stabilization step that was inhibited by Mg2+ was demonstrated; transformation was not affected by either Ca2+ or Mg2+, and the site and nature of the stabilization are unknown. More than one molecule of DNA was required for plaque formation. Biophysical characterization showed a type B phage of buoyant density (CsCl) 1.50, containing five proteins and 54.8% DNA. The duplex linear DNA had a molecular weight (calculated from contour length) of 23.2 X 10(6) and a guanine plus cytosine content (calculated from melting point) of 42.3 mol%. Similar characterizations of streptococcal phages, including biophysical data, have not been previously available. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Effect of temperature on the adsorption and one-step growth of the Nostoc virus N-1. Padhy, R.N., Singh, P.K. (1977). Archives of Microbiology 115:163-167. This study was an attempt to observe the effects of temperature on adsorption and one-step growth of the virus N-1 infecting the nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium Nostoc muscorum. Adsorption rate was found to maximum at 40 degrees C whereas no adsorption occurred at 10 degrees C. The Q10 value was about 2.03 and the energy of activation, Ea was 16.3 kcal/mole for the adsorption process. The development cycle of the virus was temperature sensitive. With increase in temperature, a gradual increase in inhibition of virus yield i.e. 8.33% at 30 degrees C, 35.3% at 35 degrees C and complete inhibition at 40 degrees C was observed. Out of 7 h latent period, the early 4 h were temperature sensitive and heat treatment had a reversible inhibitory effect on virus development. The temperature treatment did not affect the rise period but burst-size was reduced. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Properties of four temperate bacteriophages active on Clostridium perfringens type A. Paquette, G., Fredette, V. (1977). REVUE CANADIENNE DE BIOLOGIE 36:205-215. Four temperature bacteriophages (designated as PF1, PF2, PF3 and PF4) were isolated from lysogenic strains of Clostridium perfringens type A. On the basis of plaque morphology, pH stability, DNase and RNase resistance, buoyant density, one-step growth parameters and electron microscope phage dimensions, it seems that these phages are different and unrelated. Calcium was required for better phage replication. Bacterial strain S107 appears to be the only UV-inducible strain as compared with the other three lysogenic strains. PF2 has a unique pattern of pH stability showing two optima values: one at pH 5 and the second at pH 8-9. Generally, all four phages have a better resistance in acid than in alkaline pH values. The CsC1 equilibrium centrifugation patterns reveal low figures for phage PF1, PF2 and PF3 and show off the fact that PF4 lysates contain two viral particules different with respect to their densities, a property which other determinations failed to demonstrate. Each phage, except PF4, is well characterized by the parameters of the one-step growth cycle. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Rapid concentration of bacteriophage from aquatic habitats. Primrose, S.B., Day, M. (1977). J. Appl. Bacteriol. 42:417-421. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Bacteriophage typing of Shigella sonnei. Pruneda, R.C., Farmer, J.J. (1977). Journal of Clinical Microbiology 5:66-74. A bacteriophage-typing schema was developed for differentiating strains of Shigella sonnei. Sixty-seven bacteriophages were obtained from other collections, and 36 bacteriophages were isolated from sewage. From these 103 bacteriophages, a provisional set of 12 was chosen by computer analysis as being the most sensitive in differentiating strains of S. sonnei isolated in the United States. The provisional schema was used to type 265 strains from different geographical areas. It divided them into 87 different lysis patterns, and all 265 strains were typable. Smooth and rough colonial variants of the same strain had different lysis patterns, so the technique was standardized to type rough colonies only. Reproducibility was difficult to obtain until all conditions were carefully standardized. Changes in results were noted even on different lot numbers of Trypticase soy agar, which was defined as the standard medium. So that the medium would not be a variable, 100 pounds (ca 453.5 kg) of the same lot number was purchased. Bacteriophage typing was very useful in differentiating strains, and work should continue on establishing a standarized schema. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Bacteriophage fNS11: a lipid-containing phage of acidophilic thermophilic bacteria. II. Purification and some properties of the phage. Sakaki, Y., Yamada, K., Oshima, M., Oshima, T. (1977). J. Biochem. (Tokyo) 82:1451-??? [TOP OF PAGE]
- Recovery and susceptibility pattern of faecal streptococci bacteriophages. Saleh, F.A. (1977). Water Res. 11:403-409. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Inactivation and inhibition of replication of the enveloped bacteriophage phi6 by fatty acids. Sands, J.A. (1977). Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 12:523-528. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Effects of temperature and host cell genetic characteristics on the replication of the lipid-containing bacteriophage PR4 in Escherichia coli. Sands, J.A., Auperin, D. (1977). J. Virol. 22:315-320. The lipid-containing bacteriophage PR4 is of special intest because it can replicate in various gram-negative bacteria, including Escherichia coli, that carry one of a group of drug resistance plasmids. PR4 grown in E. coli strain PS2R contains about 10% lipid by weight, with the negatively charged phospholipid phosphatidylglycerol being the most abundant lipid in the virion. We now report the following. (i) PR4 attaches to E. coli with an attachment rate constant of Ka approximately 6.2 X 10(-10) ml/min, which is about twice that of the enveloped phage phi6 (to Pseudomonas phaseolicola), but a factor of 5 less than that of phage PM2 (to Pseudomonas BAL-31). (ii) Use of an E. coli glycerol auxotroph indicated that a normal amount of PR4 replication occurs only if glycerol starvation (inhibition of all phospholipid synthesis) begins no earlier than about halfway through the lytic cycle. (iii) Use of an E. coli fatty acid synthesis temperature-sensitive mutant and an E. coli phosphatidylethanolamine synthesis temperature-sensitive mutant indicate that PR4 replication can occur in the absence of either normal fatty acid synthesis or normal phospholipid synthesis if the infection takes place prior to the termination of overall cell growth and the onset of cell death, (iv) Whereas PR4 burst size in nutrient media at 30 degrees C to 42%C is about 40, the burst size at 20 degrees C is less than 3, Temperature-shift experiments show that the temperature late in infection determines the burst size. [TOP OF PAGE]
- [Bacteriophage typing of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from dental plaque and saliva]. Seviik, N., Bastepe, S., Hakgudener, Y. (1977). MIKROBIYOLOJI BULTENI 11:343-353. Samples from 1127 persons were collected, S. aureus were isolated from 39 (3,4%) dental and from 4 (3,5%) saliva. The strains were tested with 22 basic phage types and 56 of them could be typed. 19 of them were typed by RTD and 19 by 1000 X RTD. Most of them were from phage Group II. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Cyanophage AC-1 infecting the blue green alga Anacystis nidulans. Sharma, C.R., Venkataraman, G.S., Prakash, N. (1977). Curr. Sci. 46:496-497. A new phage type infecting A.nidulans 14011 and Chroococcus minor ARM was isolated from a waste stabilization pond in New Delhi. The phage formed clear plaques of 4-6 min after 10 days incubation. Several blue-green algal species of Nostoc, Anabaena, T.lypolthrix, Aulosira and Spirulina, the green alga Chlorella vulgaris, and the bacteria Azotobacter chroococcum, Rhizobium spp and Rhodopseudomonas capsulata were also tested for susceptibility to this phage, but none were susceptible. The short non-contractile tail of this AC-1 phage differentiated it from AS-1 and is similar to SM-1. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Isolation and characterization of bacteriophages from staphylococci of chicken origin. Shimizu, A. (1977). Am. J. Vet. Res. 38:1389-1392. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Botulism, the Organism, its Toxin, the Disease. Smith, L.D.S. (1977). Charles C. Thomas, Springfield, IL.[TOP OF PAGE]
- Cyanophage as an Indicator of Animal Viruses in Wastewater. Stagg, C.H., Gerba, C.P. (1977). Journal / Water Pollution Control Federation 49:1915-1916. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Inactivation of clay-associated bacteriophage MS-2 by chlorine. Stagg, C.H., Wallis, C., Ward, C.H. (1977). Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 33:385-391. The model system consisted of bacteriophage MS-2, bentonite clay, and hypochlorous acid (HOC1). Factors that influenced association of the bacterial virus with bentonite were the titer of unadsorbed viruses, clay concentration, cation concentration, temperature, stirring rate, and the presence of soluble organics. Variation of the kinetic adsorption rate constant with stirring speed indicates that phage attachment is a diffusion-limited process; the attachment reaction has an apparent activation energy of 1 kcal/mol. About 18% of clay-associated bacteriophages was recovered by mixing the suspension with an organic eluent. Inactivation data were obtained from batch reactors operated under those conditions in which loss of HOC1 was minimal during the reaction. Bacteriophages attached to clay were more resistant to HOC1 than were freely suspended phages; for equivalent HOC1 concentrations, clay-associated phages required about twice the time that freely suspended phages required for loss of 99% of the initial virus titer. [TOP OF PAGE]
- A counting method for determining the burst size of defective phages from Bacillus subtilis. Steensma, H.Y., Sondermeijer, P.J. (1977). Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 43:305-316. The defective phages of Bacillus subtilis cannot be counted by plating as they do not form plaques. In addition, counting under the electron microscope with latex spheres as an internal standard is not possible. The reliability of a method using Escherichia coli phage T4 as a substitute for the latex spheres has been tested and the results compared with those of other methods. Using this method, we determined the burst sizes of the defective phages PBS X, PBS Y and PBS Z under various conditions. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Evidence for frequent lysogeny in lactobacilli: Temperate bacteriophages within the subgenus Streptobacterium. Stetter, K.O. (1977). J. Virol. 24:685-689. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Microbial pathogens of cyanophycean blooms. Stewart, W.D.P., Daft, M. (1977). pp. 177-218. In In Droop, M.R. and Jannasch, H.W. (eds.), Advances in Aquatic Microbiology. Volume 1. Academic Press, New York. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Chemotaxis by Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus toward prey. Straley, S.C., Conti, S.F. (1977). J. Bacteriol. 132:628-640. A chemotaxis assay system that uses a modified Boyden chamber was characterized and used for measurements of chemotaxis by Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus strain UKi2 toward several bacterial species. Bacteria tested included both susceptible and nonsusceptible cells (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Bacillus megaterium, and B. bacteriovorus strains UKi2 and D). None was attractive to bdellovibrios when present at densities below 10(7) cells per ml. Chemotaxis toward E. coli was studied most extensively; under conditions that minimized effects of osmotic shock to the cells, E. coli and exudates from E. coli at densities as high as 10(8) cells per ml failed to elicit a chemotactic response. Cell-free filtrates from mixed cultures of bdellovibrios and E. coli neither attracted nor repelled bdellovibrios. The data indicate that bdellovibrios do not use chemotaxis to locate prey cells. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Lambda and T4 bacteriophage hybrids. Tikhomirova, L.P., Vorozheikina, D.P., Putintceva, N.I., Matvienko, N.I. (1977). J. Mol. Biol. 113:567-??? [TOP OF PAGE]
- [The action of selected herbicides on bacteriophages and Escherichia coli (author's transl)]. Toure, I.M., Stenz, E. (1977). ZENTRALBLATT FUR BAKTERIOLOGIE, PARASITENKUNDE, 132:163-177. The effect of eight herbicides on the multiplication of bacteria and bacteriophages was tested with Escherichia coli, strains W1665F+ and C600, and with the RNA-phage M12 and the DNA-phage lambda in turbidimetric investigations and one-step growth experiments. E. coli is inhibited by seven of the herbicides investigated in concentrations of 10(-3)M, partly of 10(-4)M, too, and is promoted by some compounds in weaker concentrations. Naphthylacetic acid, (NES) largely independent of its concentration, causes increased density of bacteria in fluid culture. The multiplication of the M12 phage is inhibited in sometimes wide ranges of concentration by 2,4-D, MCPA, 2,4-DP, and CMPP but it is stimulated by NES and amitrole. The lambda-phage multiplication is inhibited only by CMPP, MCPA, MCPB, and phenylacetic acid interfere with the lysogenization of the bacteria and increase the lytic activity of the lambda-phages as 2,4-DP and NES do. 2,4-D strongly inhibits the plaque-forming ability of M12 phages already prior to their contact with the host cells, whereas MCPA and CMPP are inhibitory in the first phases and 2,4-DP in all phases of the phage replication. In the lambda-phage replication, too, CMPP is effective only in the first phases. Aspects of the mode of action of the herbicides in the procaryoute virus system are discussed. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Isolation of bacteriophage from Thermoactinomyces. Treuhaft, M.W. (1977). Journal of Clinical Microbiology 6:420-424. Bacteriophages were isolated from strains of Thermoactinomyces vulgaris, T. candidus, and T. sacchari used to produce antigen for hypersensitivity pneumonitis screening at the Marshfield Medical Foundation. Whereas the one phage isolated from T. sacchari and two phages from T. vulgaris were species specific, three other phages isolated from T. vulgaris and the two phages isolated from T. candidus were infectious for both T. vulgaris and T. candidus, thus indicating a close relationship between these two species. A simple reproducible scheme for classification of newly isolated T. vulgaris-T. candidus phages into seven groups on the basis of host range is presented. Examination of plaque morphology of the T. vulgaris-T. candidus phages supported the host range classification scheme. The ease of isolation of phages from cultures of Thermoactinomyces suggests that they are commonly associated with this genus. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Influence of osmolarity of the growth medium on the outer membrane protein pattern of Escherichia coli. Van Alphen, W., Lugtenberg, B. (1977). J. Bacteriol. 131:623-630. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Bdellovibrio and the intestinal flora of vertebrates. Westergaard, J.M., Kramer, T.T. (1977). Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 34:506-511. Bdellovibrio strain MS7 force-fed to fish and frogs via an intragastric tube did not become an integral component of the intestinal microflora. Strain MS7 fed to mice in drinking water was not recovered from the intestinal tract of mice. However, in vitro, the organism multiplied in intestinal contents of frogs and mice. Bdellovibrio inoculated into rabbit ileal loops was greatly reduced in number within 24 h. It was concluded that strains MS7 could be considered nonpathogenic to animals, at least when introduced into the digestive tract, and that it is not feasible at the present time to lyse pathogenic, gram-negative bacteria in the alimentary tract with Bdellovibrio. [TOP OF PAGE]
- [Heterogeneity of natural populations of staphylococci]. [Russian]. Zakarian, L.M., Denisova, L.E., Sokolov, A.A., Rybakov, M.M. (1977). Zhurnal Mikrobiologii, Epidemiologii i Immunobiologii 36-39. It was revealed by the replique method that the Staphylococcus aureus populations were (in the primary cultures of material obtained from sick and healthy individuals) heterogeneous by phage type, pathogenicity signs and by the resistance to the antibacterial preparations. The extent of heterogeneity could be assessed by the number of variants and by the percentage of the most numerous variant. It differed in different groups of the patients examined. The extent of heterogeneity decreased in cloning the subcultures; this was in favour of the fact that heterogeneity of the primary cultures was caused chiefly by the entrance into the human organism of staphylococci of different biotypes. The replique method permitted to reveal the changes in the clonic structure of the staphylococcus population in the course of the disease, the effect of antibacterial therapy, the appearance of exogenous staphylococci, and their further fate. [TOP OF PAGE]
- [Change in phage sensitivity in Rhizobium meliloti transformants]. [Russian]. Zaretskaia, A.N., Boiko, L.A. (1977). Mikrobiologiia 46:737-740. Cultures of Rhizobium meliloti were studied in order to test their phage resistance. Seven variants of the modification of phage resistance were found among the transformants under study, and an attempt was made to interpret them. [TOP OF PAGE]
- Persistence and patchiness of predator-prey systems induced by discrete event population exchange mechanisms. Zeigler, B.P. (1977). J. Theor. Biol. 67:687-713. [TOP OF PAGE]
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