Effect of Nalidixic Acid on the Growth of Bacterial Viruses

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Abstract
The multiplication of T2r phage in Escherichia coli was inhibited by nalidixic acid. The drug affected neither free phage nor adsorption process. A preexposure of the host bacteria to the drug did not prevent the growth of T2r. When T2r infected culture exposed to the drug was transferred to a fresh drug-free medium, the growth of the phage resumed rapidly, suggesting the reversible nature of the inhibition. The action of the drug covers not only conventional double-stranded DNA phages but also single-stranded DNA phages such as OX174 and OR. Growth of RNA phages such as [beta] or 10, was, however, insensitive to the drug even at relatively higher concentrations. Viral DNA synthe-sis may be the action target of the drug.