Grouping of RNA Phages by a Millipore Filtration Method

Abstract

Twenty‐five strains of RNA phages were tested for their filtration and elution patterns (F‐E patterns) by a millipore filtration method. These strains, including MS2, f2 and R17, were separated in three groups in this aspect. We named these groups as group I, II and III. According to this grouping, MS2, f2 and R17 belonged to group I and Qβ belonged to group III. Furthermore, it was shown that group III was further divided in two sub‐groups (IIIa and IIIb) by this method. Grouping based on the F‐E patterns was in extremely good accordance with the grouping based on the serological properties. This grouping was also supported by the results of chemical and physical analyses of these RNA phages, that is, RNA phages which belonged to the same group had several common properties. Basic Information on the millipore filtration method was also presented in this paper. © jointly owned by Japanese society for Bacteriology and Society of Japanese Virologists