Two Generalized Transducing Phages in Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio alginolyticus

Abstract

Two bacteriophages named 0VP253 and 0VP143 isolated after ultraviolet induction from lysogenic strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus have been shown to be generalized transducing phages. So far, seven different auxotrophic markers of a V. parahaemolyticus strain could be transduced at the frequencies ranging from 2.2 X 10~7to 7.5 x 10~5per infected cell at the m.o.i. of approximately 1.0. The phage 0VP143, but not 0VP253, lysed 20 of the 28 strains of V. alginolyticus and the occurrence of generalized transduction by this phage in this Vibrio species has been confirmed. Molecular size of the genomes of both phages were estimated to be approximately 48 kb as judged from electrophoretic mobilities of the DNAs digested with HindIII endonuclease. The results and similarity of the two phages in morphology and other properties suggest very close relatedness of the phages. © 1991, Center For Academic Publications Japan. All rights reserved.