Lysogeny in mycobacteria. I. Conversion of colony morphology, nitrate reductase activity, and Tween 80 hydrolysis of Mycobacterium sp. ATCC 607 associated with lysogeny

Abstract

Colony changes from rough to smooth were observed in a rough strain of mycobacterium ATCC 607 after exposure to phages D29 and B4. The colonies surviving after exposure to these two phages were both smooth and lysogenic. Increased nitrate reductase and Tween 80 hydrolytic activities accompanied lysogenization. Loss of lysogeny was accompanied by conversion to the rough colony type and a decrease in nitrate reductase and Tween 80 hydrolytic activities. The rapid loss and gain of these multiple characteristics suggested that the genetic control lies in a plasmid of mycobacteria.