619. Host-phage relationships of cheese starter organisms: II. Effect of phage activity on heterologous strains of lactic streptococci

Abstract

A reaction closely resembling the nascent phage phenonomenon was studied. When lysing the homologous strains ofStr. lactis, two phage races were found to be capable of simultaneously inducing lysis of a heterologous strain and of other phage-resistant homologous strains. Seitz filtered potent lysates of the homologous strains also caused lysis. Subjecting the lysates to a temperature of 60°C. for 5 min. destroyed the lytic activity on heterologous strains but did not inactivate the phage.These two phage races produced haloes around their plaques while a third phage, unable to induce lysis of heterologous cultures, showed no haloes. Addition of I3-to the medium suppressed the appearance of haloes, providing further evidence that they are due to the production of bacterial lysins.Evidence was obtained to show that several other possible mechanisms were not responsible for the observed lysis, and it was concluded that a heat-labile lysin or lysins capable of destroying the heterologous strain was produced during lysis of the homologous strain. The relationship of this to the nascent phage and other similar phenomena observed elsewhere is discussed.