Adsorption of bacteriophages phi 29 and 22a to protoplasts of Bacillus subtilis 168

Abstract
Adsorption of bacteriophages .vphi.29 and 22a to protoplasts of B. subtilis 168 is described. The number of binding sites on bacilli and protoplasts is determined for each phage. Bacilli and protoplasts possess roughly the same number of sites per unit area for .vphi.29, i.e., .apprx. 700 sites/bacillus. There are .apprx. 700 sites/bacillus for 22a, but only .apprx. 1/3 as many sites per unit area on the protoplast surface. A model for .vphi.29 adsorption is proposed.