Open AccessBiological characterization of the lytic cycle of actinophage φA7 in Streptomyces antibioticus
Author(s) -
Diaz Luis A.,
Gomez Pilar,
Hardisson Carlos,
Rodicio M.R.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1991.tb04390.x
Subject(s) - lytic cycle , mycelium , spore , adsorption , streptomyces , strain (injury) , divalent , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , nuclear chemistry , stereochemistry , bacteria , botany , organic chemistry , virus , virology , anatomy , genetics
Some basic parameters of the lytic development of phage φA7 in Streptomyces antibioticus are described. One‐step growth experiments demonstrated that at 28°C φA7 has a latent period of about 60 min and an exponential growth period of about 35 min. The average burst size ranged from 70–100 plaque forming units per infected cell. At the same temperature 50% of the virions were adsorbed to germ tubes of S. antibioticus in about 10 min. This corresponds to an adsorption constant of 6.5 × 10 −10 ml/min. The phage was unable to adsorb the host at other stages of the life cycle (spores or mycelium). Divalent cations are not required for φA7 stability but Ca 2+ proved to be essential for adsorption and also for a later stage of the vegetative development of the phage.