OBSERVATIONS ON THE HOST-INDUCED MODIFICATION OF T2 BACTERIOPHAGE WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE EFFECTS OF α-KETO ACIDS

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Abstract
When T2 bacteriophage infects some B/4 mutants of Escherichia coli strain B, a host-modified form of the phage is produced. This modified phage (designated T*2) does not multiply in most young cells of strain B or strain B/4, However, a combination of UV light (before infection) and certain a-keto acids including pyruvic, a-ketoglutaric and oxalacetic acids (after infection) enable all strain B cells to produce T2 when infected by T*2. In the absence of the a-keto acids from the post-irradiation glucose-salts medium, most of the infected cells produce no phage. When these compounds are present they prevent the loss of input T2 or T*2 by abortive infections. The a-keto acids have no effect on the viability of the irradiated cells. They are required within a short time after infection by T*2 if phage production by all infected cells is to occur. Strain B/4 cells respond similarly to strain B cells when subjected to these treatments. However, T *2 is produced by these cells instead of T2.