FINE STRUCTURE OF THE BACTERIOPHAGE ATTACHMENT PROCESS

Abstract

Cota-Robles , E. H. (University of California, Riverside) and M. D. Coffman . Fine structure of the bacteriophage attachment process. J. Bacteriol. 86: 266–273. 1963.—Electron microscopic examination of cells of Escherichia coli infected with coliphage T 2 suggested that the tail spikes of the virus attach to the cell wall. This is followed by a local disorganization of the cell wall and contraction of the virus tail resulting in the approximation of the virus to the cell. Ejection of the viral contents is followed by a retraction of the attached viral ghost from the infected cell. The bacterial cells reveal a fibrillar nuclear structure which in some cases surrounds material that appears to be of cytoplasmic origin.