The classification of bacteriophages lysing staphylococci

Abstract

Staphylococcal phages may be divided into three broad divisions:(1) Phages lysing coagulase-positive staphylococci with a restricted host range. Phages in this division may be further divided into five lytic groups I, II, III, IV and Miscellaneous.(2) ‘Polyvalent’ phages; phages with a wide host range among coagulase-positive cocci, and sometimes also active on coagulase-negative strains.(3) Phages lysing only coagulase-negative staphylococci.Within each division the phages can be further grouped by their serological reactions. Nine serological groups have been defined. Phages of any single serological group also share other characteristics, e.g. stability, and the ability to form lysogenic systems.