618. Host-phage relationship of cheese starter organisms: I. Interaction of phage races with a strain ofStreptococcus lactisand its lysogenic and resistant derivatives

Abstract

A lysogenic culture, prepared in the laboratory from a strain ofStreptococcus lactis, was used as a cheese starter in commercial factories. It was attacked in turn by two other unrelated phage races. The lysogenic condition, which involved slight morphological and physiological changes, persisted in the subsequent forms resistant to one or both the new phage races. Acquired resistance to any one of the three phages did not protect the culture from the other two phages.In nature such interactions between phage races and lactic acid bacteria must be constantly taking place, giving rise to similarly related strains.Two of the three phage races produced spreading haloes around their plaques due to a lysin released during phage action. The lysin may also interfere with the survival of secondary growth after attack by these phage races. Production of this type of lysin is thus a property of the phage race and not of the bacterial strain.