EFFECT OF SODIUM SULFATE ON THE PHAGE-BACTERIUM REACTION

Bacteriophagy taking place in the presence of M/8 Na(2)SO(4) has the following pronounced characteristics: A. Time of lysis is considerably prolonged. B. The bacteria take up less than the normal amount of phage. C. Phage production occurs at one-third the customary rate. D. It takes four times as much phage to lyse a Na(2)SO(4)-treated bacterium than a normal one. E. Bacterial growth is not affected by Na(2)SO(4). The lag phase and the lowered rate of phage production can be attributed to the Na(2)SO(4) effect on the cell surface. Less phage is taken up by the cells and contact of phage with the bacterium's precursor-producing mechanism is impeded.