Abstract
Observations on absorption of phage by heat-killed bacilli particularly those on the typhosus-paratyphosus B group and some strains of suipestifer suggested that further investigations along this line might yield information revealing new relationships in this highly complex group of organisms. 1 , 2 , 3 We here report the existence of differences in the suipestifer group first detected by characteristic phage absorption effects and confirmed by subsequent immunization and experiments on agglutinin absorption.
The observations were made with a phage derived from chicken stool filtrates and propagated with a particular American strain of suipestifer, No. 26∗ in our collection. This phage lysed to a high titer numerous smooth cultures of the biochemically different types, namely American, Kunzendorf and one out of 4 strains of the Hirschfeld type, the other 3 being comparatively resistant. As already reported, 1 , 3 the strain Glässer-voldagsen was completely resistant even to the action of undiluted phage. We have since found one culture, No. 92 (American∗) in our collection which was poorly lysed but differed from other suipestifer strains in failing to absorb actively from the suipestifer 26 phage, particularly from some passages. Somewhat similar effects were observed with strains 80 and Glässer-voldagsen.
Curiously enough, the same cultures, 80 and 92 were 2 of several strains, mostly of the Kunzendorf type, which on repeated occasions absorbed small quantities of the phage for paratyphosus B in contrast to the other suipestifer strains which did not at all absorb. These effects are indicated in Table I.
In view of these results, it seemed desirable to determine whether serological characteristics could be found to correspond more or less with the qualitative differences shown in phage absorption.
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