LYSOGENY IN STAPHYLOCOCCI

Abstract

Blair, John E. (Hospital for Joint Diseases, New York, N. Y.) and Miriam Carr . Lysogeny in staphylococci. J. Bacteriol. 82: 984–993. 1961.—Changes in the phage typing patterns of strains of staphylococci of the 80/81-52/52A/80/81 complex and of phage group III were produced by lysogenization with temperate phages derived from selected strains of Staphylococcus aureus . The phages used were of the serological groups A, B, and F. Certain changes of phage pattern were related to serologically specific prophage immunity; others were nonspecific, or resulted from the conversion of a strain from partial resistance to full sensitivity to certain typing phages. In addition to an alteration of their phage typing pattern, the lysogenization of certain strains by appropriate phages effected a reversal of their susceptibility to penicillin. The capacity to produce toxin was conferred upon certain nontoxigenic strains by lysogenization with a phage derived from a toxigenic strain.