Anomaly in the neutralization kinetics of phages of Agrobacterium radiobacter

Abstract

Inactivation rates of PS-192 phage of Agrobacterium radiobacter with specific antisera homologous to phage PR-1001 deviated from a first-order reaction. In an investigation of this phenomenon, several hypotheses were tested, including effect of the animal, hereditary resistance to neutralization, exhaustion of antiserum potency, combining of antibody with phage in such a way as to render neutralization-resistant complexes, a non-specific effect of the complement, and a non-immune serum factor. None of these hypotheses, however, could be corroborated experimentally. Preliminary investigation of the cationic environment showed that mono- and di-valent cations exert considerable effect on the course of neutralization of the bacteriophages studied.