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A simple method of distinguishing the bacterial viruses T3 and T7, and a critical reevaluation of their heterologous and homologous exclusion
Author(s) -
Krüger D. H.,
Mann W.,
Hansen S.,
Bläsing G.,
Bläsing M.,
Schroeder C.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
journal of basic microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.58
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1521-4028
pISSN - 0233-111X
DOI - 10.1002/jobm.3620280107
Subject(s) - permissive , biology , heterologous , rna , gene , bacterial virus , escherichia coli , homologous chromosome , virus , multiplicity of infection , virology , plating efficiency , dna , microbiology and biotechnology , bacteriophage , cell , genetics
A method is presented allowing a clear distinction between bacterial viruses T3 and T7 by plating on selectively permissive host cells. The indicator strains are Escherichia coli cells containing either cloned pif genes (exclusively permissive for T3) or the Eco RV DNA restriction system (permissive only for T7): The efficiencies of plating of the two phages on these hosts differ by more than 8 orders of magnitude. This method was applied to reinvestigate the controversial question of mutual exclusion between T3 and T7. Under single‐burst conditions, about 50% of coinfected cells (permissive for both viruses) produced T3 and T7 progeny while about 25% reproduced only T3 and about 25% only T7. The burst size of co‐infected cells was slightly reduced, compared to controls infected with only one virus type. Homologous exclusion among T3 phages was also not seen; rather, there was a gene dosage effect: T3‐encoded RNA polymerase activity as well as T3‐specific RNA synthesis increased proportionally to the multiplicity of infection (2.5–20 plaque‐forming units/cell).