The nature of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAO bacteriophage receptors

Abstract
Receptors for phages specific to P. aeruginosa strain PAO were studied. Phages 16, 44, 109, F8 and PBI are lipopolysaccharide (LPS) specific as shown by neutralization tests. The PhI50 [LPS concentration that neutralizes 50% of the phages in 1 h] of the LPS, adsorption rate constants with strain PAO and the plaque morphologies of these 5 phages were similar. Phages 1214 and 7 also appear to be LPS-specific on the basis of host-range studies. Phage 73 is pilus-specific, while phages 21 and 68 fall into a group which does not attach to pili, flagella or LPS. A theoretical approach to the interpretation of phage-cell interactions is presented.