Further Studies on Staphylococcus Bacteriophage

Abstract

In 1922, 11 reported studies on the phenomenon of d'Herelle with Staphylococcus aureus and called attention to the fact that a bacteriophage or lytic substance, specific for one or more strains of staphylococcus, can be isolated directly from acute staphylococcus boils. It was possible in only two cases' of the ten reported to demonstrate direct action on the autogenous strain with a given lytic agent, thus calling attention to the apparent insusceptibility of the organisms directly involved to the lytic substance. These experiments, as also the work of most of the earlier writers, seemed to indicate that the initiation of bacteriophage activity is the result of contact of the organisms with body cells. However, the later work of Bail,2 Otto and Munter,3 Kuttner 4 and others who isolated bacteriophages from old broth cultures of organisms of the colon-typhoid group was of paramount importance because it suggested that the lytic principle might be derived from the organisms themselves without contact with body cells. To multiply if possible the facts concerning the isolation of these materials from pure cultures this method of investigation was extended to Staphylococcus aureus. As a necessary introduction to the main part of this paper, I shall summarize briefly certain outstanding facts (heretofore unpublished) which developed in the early experiments.