Conditions for the Infection of Escherichia coli with Lambda Phage and for the Establishment of Lysogeny

Abstract

SUMMARY: Optimal conditions for the adsorption of bacteriophage λ₂₂ by Escherichia coli strain K112 require 0·02M-MgSO₄ and a pH value of the order 6·5. With a multiplicity of input of 20 phage particles per bacterium, 99% of the bacteria are infected and at least 90% are lysogenized. Irradiation of the cells with ultraviolet light immediately prior to infection causes them to give the lytic rather than the lysogenic response.