Transduction of Capacity to Produce Staphylococcal Penicillinase

Abstract

Transduction of capacity to produce the enzyme penicillinase among 4 of 19 penicillin sensitive strains of Staphylococcus aureus was accomplished. The 4 acceptor strains were sensitive to lysis by phages in Group I. Phage 80 and mutants of phages 42B, 47C and 52 were capable of participating in the transduction process. The rate of transduction was 1 or 2 transduced cells per 107 plaque forming units. Although resistant clones had to be detected on media containing 0.12 units of penicillin per ml, subcultures were resistant to 250 units.