PRELIMINARY STUDIES ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF ACTINOPHAGES IN SOIL

Abstract

The perfusion technique was used to isolate actinophages from soil. It was demonstrated that the perfusate of a specific soil contained more phages for streptomycetes isolated from that soil than for isolates from other sources. Titers as high as 10⁴/ml of perfusate were obtained. In general, the greatest number of actinophages against the majority of isolates was obtained after 48 hours' perfusion. Differences in daily fluctuation in virus titer indicated a degree of specificity in the viruses observed. Bacteriophages were not as readily isolated from perfusates as were actinophages, however, this might be explained on the basis of adsorption to soil since this factor appears, at least in some cases, to be important in limiting the number of phage particles in the perfusate.