Pasteurella Bacteriophage Sex Specific in Escherichia coli

Phage H, thought to be specific for Pasteurella pestis, was shown to plate efficiently on F(-) strains of Escherichia coli but not on F(+), F', or Hfr strains. The phage was adsorbed rapidly to F(-) strains but was not adsorbed to strains carrying F. Comparison with seven other reported female-specific phages showed that, although phage H was similar to the other phages in some characteristics, the exceptionally low efficiency of plating (<10(-9)) on F-containing cells makes phage H a particularly useful female-specific phage.