A Bacteriophage for Mycobacterium smegmatis.

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Abstract
During investigations on the isolation of bacteria antagonistic to the mycobacteria, a bacteriophage for M. smegmatis was encountered. The enrichment method of Dubos was applied to samples of moist soil and leaf compost containing CaCO3. They were incubated at 37 [degree]C for 8 months and treated semi weekly with a heavy, washed suspension of M. smegmatis. After 3 months, tests for antagonists were begun by fixation-plating with 1% glycerol agar heavily inoculated with M. smegmatis. Plates from 2 composts contained smooth-edged plaques. Filtrates of subcultured plaque material contained the bacteriophage in a conc. of 300 billion per ml. The bacteriophage was inactive vs. M. phlei and a 2d strain of M. smegmatis. Its thermal death point (10 min.) was between 72[degree] and 75[degree]C. It preserved well in 50% glycerol, and by lyophilization. In subsequent trials the bacteriophage was recovered as early as the 3d week of enrichment. Isolations were made from 2 of 6 samples of enriched compost and from 1 sample of enriched soil. 8 control samples of unenriched compost and 4 of soil were negative. The lack of reports of bacteriophages for the mycobacteria indicates that they may be scarce. It is suggested that the present isolations may have succeeded because of the enrichment procedure employed.

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