An Actinophage for Streptomyces griseus

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Studies were made on a phage for S. griseus which it is suggested be designated as actinophage. The phage attacks only streptomycin-producing strains of S. griseus and has no effect upon other streptomycin-producing organisms, such as S. bikiniensis. It does not multiply in cultures of strains of S. griseus that do not produce streptomycin and may actually be destroyed or adsorbed by them. Phage-sensitive cultures of S. griseus rapidly give rise to phage-resistant strains. This actinophage multiplies at the expense of living cell material but not in the presence of heat-killed material. The optimum temp. for its multiplication is 28[degree]C; it does not multiply at 37[degree]C or above. It is stable at 75[degree]C for 1 hr. but is completely destroyed in 10 min. at 100[degree]C. The actinophage may be stored at 6[degree]C without loss of activity, but storage at 28[degree]C or higher results in a rapid loss of activity, the rate of loss being proportional to the temp. The nature of the medium in which the actinophage is suspended greatly influences the rate of its destruction. A plaque-count method for the determination of phage potency is described.

This publication has 5 references indexed in Scilit: