Multiplication of the T3 Bacteriophage Against E. coli.

Abstract

SummaryCultures of young, rapidly growing susceptible colon bacilli obtained after hourly transplants to fresh broth appear quickly lysed by the addition of T3 bacteriophage. Electron micrographs show that the bacterial membranes rupture very soon after adsorption of bacteriophage and that colonies of new phage particles rapidly appear in the protoplasmic masses. This protoplasm from young cells is the same assemblage of spherical macromolecules seen after lysis with T2 phage. As was the case with this other phage the observed phenomena are those to be expected of particles behaving as if they were minute microorganisms multiplying by division at the expense of the bacterial protoplasm.