An assay forBacillus stearothermophilususing thermophilic virus

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Abstract
An assay for Bacillus stearothermophilus has been developed using thermophilic phage. The technique provides a convenient means of assaying samples for B. stearothermophilus at unselective temperatures and, under favourable circumstances, at ambient temperatures. In contrast with the viable-count assay, which scores for both cells and spores, the phage assay scores only for dividing cells. Most infectious centres were shown to represent infected bacteria rather than free phage. In a temperate environment the number of' dividing B. stearothermophilus cells in soil was found to be negligible.

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