Formation of Protoplasts from Mycobacteria by Mycobacteriophage.

Abstract

Various mycobacterial cells were converted to protoplasts by treatment with a mycobacteriophage concentrate. The technique involved production of sufficient adapted phage by growth either in the 607 or H37Ra strains of tubercle bacilli. Further concentration was necessary in order to obtain a sufficiently high phage bacteria ratio. This was accomplished by lyophilization. The significance of the reported findings is discussed.