Base ratio and deoxyribonucleic acid homology studies of six Staphylococcus aureus typing bacteriophages.

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  • 1 February 1974
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 27  (2) , 317-23
Abstract
Genetic relatedness among Staphylococcus aureus typing bacteriophages 80, 47, 81, 71, 77, and 187 was investigated by using base ratio determinations and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)-DNA hybridization. Guanine/cytosine (G/C) content, as determined by thermal denaturation and chromatographic analysis of the purines released by acid hydrolysis of the DNA, was between 31 and 36%. No pattern correlating G/C content with serological or lytic group was discernible. DNA-DNA hybridization studies indicated high degrees of homology (43% or more) among the genomes of phages in the same serological group. Less homology (29% or less) was observed between the genomes of phages belonging to different serological groups. These findings implied a positive correlation between serological and genetic relatedness.