Mixed Infections of Bacillus subtilis Involving Bacteriophages SP82 and β22

Abstract

Progeny yields and the synthesis of nucleic acids have been investigated in two strains of Bacillus subtilis mixedly infected with two unrelated phages, SP82 and β22. When B. subtilis strain 168 was the host, the first phage added dominated the infection; when B. subtilis strain SB11 was the host, β22 produced progeny even when added to cells 5 min after infection with SP82. Dominance in these mixed infections could be correlated with qualitative and quantitative differences in the synthesis of phage-specific RNAs.