Strongly reduced phage Qβ replication, but normal phage MS2 replication in an Escherichia coli K12 mutant with inactivated Qβ host factor (hfq) gene

Abstract

RNA phage production was observed in Escherichia coli hfq mutant strains transformed with plasmids containing genomic cDNA of phages Qβ or MS2. Qβ production was reduced 5000-fold in an insertional mutant containing an omega cassette in the middle of hfq, but was unaffected in a mutant with the cassette near the end of hfq. The insertions had no effect on MS2 replication.