ISOLATION OF AND STUDIES ON BACTERIOPHAGE ACTIVE AGAINST MYCOBACTERIA

Abstract

More than forty bacteriophages lytic for saprophytic mycobacterial strains have been isolated from soil. Seven were isolated without enrichment, one following enrichment with ATCC No. 607 and Mycobacterium phlei, and the remainder following enrichment with ATCC No. 607 only. Enrichment with ATCC No. 607 followed by M. phlei resulted in isolation of a phage which lysed specifically the M. phlei strain. The lytic patterns of 22 of these phages have been determined on 31 bacterial strains. No lysis of pathogenic mycobacteria by the phages isolated from dung soil has been observed. Acid-fast bacteria isolated from the soil from which the phages were isolated showed varying susceptibilities to the phages. Antiserum produced in rabbits against one of the phage strains inactivated 97% of the homologous phage at 1100 dilution in 30 minutes. There was no effect on the other phage strains. Electron micrographs showed marked differences in the particles of two of the phage strains. Tests of susceptibility to ultraviolet irradiation and to heat indicated wide variations in six phages.