ELIMINATION OF F-EPISOME FROM A MALE STRAIN OF ESCHERICHIA COLI BY TREATMENT WITH SARKOMYCIN AND A RELATED ANTIBIOTIC

Abstract

Agents capable of eliminating the Fs-episome from a male strain of E. coli were selected by 2 methods. The 1st was based on the conversion of the strain from galactose fermentative to non-fermentative and the 2nd on the conversion from RNA phage sensitive to resistant. Two antibiotics, Sarkomycin and Primocarcin, were selected. Sarkomycin was less active but less toxic than acridine orange.