Properties of Two Marine Bacteriophages

Chen, Peter K. (Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.), Ronald V. Citarella, Omar Salazar, and Rita R. Colwell. Properties of two marine bacteriophages. J. Bacteriol. 91:1136-1139. 1966.-Various properties have been determined for two bacteriophages, NCMB 384 and 385, and their host, NCMB 397, a Cytophaga sp., isolated from the marine environment. The purified bacteriophages have been subjected to serological analysis, results of which indicate a high degree of relatedness. Purified, highly polymerized deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) prepared from the host strain showed an overall base composition of 37 moles% guanine + cytosine (buoyant density of 1.696 g/cc). The bacteriophage DNA, in the native configuration, from NCMB 384 and 385 banded at 1.691 g/cc in a CsCl gradient and the denatured bacteriophage DNA demonstrated a bimodal peak. Stability tests of the bacteriophages in various buffers and diluents suggest a requirement for inorganic cations, most likely Na(+) and Mg(++), for retention of viability.