Absorption of Staphylococcus Bacteriophages

Abstract

In a series of papers beginning in 1933 Levine and Frisch have affirmed that extracts derived from susceptible cultures of Salmonella block the lytic activity of bacteriophages active against that group of bacteria. These investigations have been confirmed by Burnet (1934), utilizing organisms and phages belonging to the same group as well as several strains of Shigella. These extracts apparently reflect quite accurately those surface anti-genic components responsible for bacteriophage absorption on living and heat-killed susceptible cultures. In the course of our studies with staphylococcus bacteriophages we have been struck by the fact that these phages are exceedingly difficult to isolate from sources rich in phages for members of the enteric group. It may very well be that one of the factors contributing to this difficulty is the absorbing quality of such substances as molds, yeasts, phage-resistant staphylococci, and body exudates (Applebaum and MacNeal, 1931; Rakieten, 1932). Other bacteriophages, especially those attacking organisms of the enteric group are not affected at all by the same agents that have a capacity for what may be termed "non-specific absorption" of staphylococcus phages. The absorption of staphylococcus phages by organisms other than staphylococci (to be reported later) has revealed evidence of heterogenetic antigenic relations between staphylococci and otherwise totally unrelated organisms. This report deals with (1) the absorption and inactivation of staphylococcus bacterio-phages by extracts prepared from susceptible and resistant strains