The inactivation and reactivation of a Proteus rettgeri phage in salt solutions.

Abstract

A phage isolated from a strain of Proteus rettgeri was studied with respect to its behavior in salt solutions. Infectivity was lost when phage was exposed to dilute salt solutions but regained when the phage was transferred to more concentrated solutions. Investigation of the effect of temperature on this phenomenon indicated that two inactivating mechanisms were involved; one associated with temperature was not reversible, whereas salt inactivation was reversible.Studies of phage attachment: showed a two-stage sequence, the first reversible the second irreversible. Phage inactivated in dilute salt solution was found to attach to bacterial cells, hence salt inactivation is not explained by inhibition of attachment.