On the Stability of Marine Bacteriophages

Abstract

The author investigated the stability of some marine bacteriophages by exposing them to various conditions, changing pH and salinity of suspended media, heating at 50°C for 30 min, and adding chloroform. The five marine bacteriophages examined showed different degrees of inactivation by these treatments. It is not concluded that sensitivity of the phages to heat, pH-change and chloroform constitute a fundamental marine property. However the requirement for inorganic salts, such as NaCl and Mg- or Ca-salt, for retention of viability is considered to be a property of marine bacteriophages. In many cases, when stocks are prepared in sea water broth, the lysates of marine bacteriophages will normally survive for several months at 5°C. © 1972, The Japanese Society of Fisheries Science. All rights reserved.