Bacteriophage Interactions With Higher Organisms

A bstract Bacteriophages were discovered 59 years ago. Despite the widespread distribution of these viruses, the extent of their interaction with higher organisms, including man, is still largely unknown. Recently, it has been shown that some phages carry genes that code for toxins, as in the case of phage β, which codes for diphtheria toxin. There have also been reports of phage genome transcription and translation in in vitro eukaryotic systems. The word bacteriophage conveys the historical nature of the discovery of this class of viruses, it does not define the limits of the viruses effects or host range. The recent discoveries of bacteriophage in commercial fetal calf serum and human vaccines should stimulate efforts to learn of phage interactions with eukaryotic systems.