RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PYOCINS AND A BACTERIOPHAGE IN PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA

Abstract

A bacteriophage related to R-type pyocins was isolated from a lysogenic strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and named PS3. It was composed of a head and a contractile tail which resembled R-type pyocins. The character of the phage was studied comparing with R-type pyocins.
The activity of this phage was neutralized by anti-R or R2 serum and the antiserum against PS3 was also active in inhibiting pyocins R and R2. However, the anti-R sheath serum, while showing a strong neutralizing activity against pyocin R or R2, was almost ineffective against the phage PS3.
The phage and the pyocins were further related in some way in the receptor specificity. Mutants resistant to one of the killer particles were isolated and their behavior to other agents were studied. From this result, a working hypothesis was presented with regard to the structure of the receptor for the phage and pyocins.