A preliminary study of the bacteriophages ofPseudomonas aeruginosa

Abstract

Thirty strains ofPseudomonas aeruginosa, isolated from routine clinical material, were investigated, with particular reference to the metallic lytic effect and the bacteriophages they carry. From the filtrates of these strains, twenty-five bacteriophages or phage variants were isolated, and the effect of these on the various bacterial strains and some of their variants were investigated.It has not been possible to elucidate the nature of the agent responsible for the metallic lytic effect. The true phages isolated, however, present many features of interest which warrant their more detailed study.Part of this work was carried out in the Nkana Kitwe and C.S.I.R. virus research unit at the U.C.T. Pathology Department.