DNA-DNA hybridizations among lactic streptococcal temperate and virulent phages belonging to distinct lytic groups

Abstract

Ten lactic streptococcal temperate phages and eight lactic streptococcal virulent phages classified on the basis of host range were differentiated by DNA-DNA hybridization. Virulent phages were classified in two distinct homology groups and temperate phages in a single one. In both temperate and virulent phages, no correlation was found between DNA homology groups and lytic groups. For most of the virulent phages, no DNA-DNA hybridization occurred with the temperature phages; however, partial sequence homology was found with DNAs from two virulent phages and four temperate phages.