Studies of a Receptor for Felix 0-1 Phage in Salmonella minnesota

SUMMARY: Isolated lipopolysaccharide from a rough mutant of Salmonella minnesota was shown to act as a receptor for Felix 0-1 bacteriophage. The isolated receptor structure could be dissociated by sodium deoxycholate with subsequent loss of receptor activity. When the deoxycholate was removed by dialysis the receptor activity was restored. Ultrasonic treatment destroyed the receptor activity and electron micrographs indicated that the ultrasonic treatment had altered the structure of the lipopolysaccharide. The experiments suggest that the inactivation of phages can be used as a test of the biological activity of a lipopolysaccharide. The interaction between the 0-1 phage and the receptor structure was also studied with the aid of electron microscopy.