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TRANSDUCTION OF BACILLUS LICHENIFORMIS AND BACILLUS SUBTILIS BY EACH OF TWO PHAGES¹

^a U.S. Army Biological Laboratories, Fort Detrick, Frederick, Maryland

ABSTRACT

TAYLOR, MARTHA J. (U.S. Army Biological Laboratories, Fort Detrick, Frederick, Md.) AND CURTIS B. THORNE. Transduction of Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus subtilis by each of two phages. J. Bacteriol. 86:452–461. 1963.—A second transducing bacteriophage, designated SP-15, was isolated from the same soil-sample culture filtrate that supplied the Bacillus subtilis transducing phage, SP-10, reported earlier from this laboratory. SP-10 and SP-15 differ serologically and in several other respects, but share the ability to propagate on B. subtilis W-23-S^r (streptomycin-resistant) and B. licheniformis ATCC 9945a, and to mediate general transduction in either species when propagated homologously. Attempts to transduce between the species have failed. SP-10 forms plaques readily on both W-23-S^r and 9945a; SP-15 forms minute plaques on W-23-S^r and has shown no evidence of any lytic activity on 9945a. Maximal recoveries of prototrophic colonies from mixtures of SP-10 with auxotrophs of either W-23-S^r or 9945a were obtained only when excess phage was neutralized by post-transduction treatment with specific phage antiserum. Such treatment was not necessary for maximal recovery of transductants effected by SP-15. Unlike SP-10, SP-15 propagated on W-23-S^r did not transduce B. subtilis 168 (indole^–). SP-15 transduced B. licheniformis more efficiently than did SP-10. Neither phage was able to transduce B. licheniformis as efficiently as it transduced B. subtilis. The differing influences of multiplicity of infection were compared for the two phages in both species.

² Present address: Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, Corvallis.

¹ In conducting the research reported herein, the investigators adhered to Principles of Laboratory Animal Care as established by the National Society for Medical Research.