Phage reproduction in relation to bacterial growth rate

Summary

The reproduction of bacteriophages T₁–T₇ inE. coli B growing in a continuous culture apparatus at constant generation times of 50′ and 150′ was studied in a defined medium with a high concentration of glucose and in a medium with glucose as a limiting factor.

It was shown that the propagation rate (as measured by the latent period) of phages T₂, T₄, T₆ and T₇ decreased with longer bacterial generation times and with reduced energy- and carbon-supply. In contrast the reproduction of phages T₁, T₃ and T₅ (which are mainly synthesized from the contents of the host cell) was unaffected by the slowing down of bacterial metabolism.