I. TYPING METHODS FOR CLOSTRIDIUM
11
tion of DNA synthesis in the bacteriocin-treated indicator strain of C.
septicum.
A bacteriocin of the non-pathogenic organism, C. butyricum, was described by Clarke et al. (1975) and Clarke and Morris (1975). Clarke and
Morris (1 976) showed that this trypsin-sensitive bacteriocin had activity
against a number of clostridial species resulting in death but not lysis of
indicator cells. Synthesis of RNA, DNA and protein was inhibited and
membrane damage was apparent as indicated by ion leakage.
Bacteriocins of C. sporogenes (Betz and Anderson, 1964) are briefly
discussed in the Section on bacteriophages of C. sporogenes.
V. BACTERIOPHAGES O F CLOSTRIDIUM
A. Bacteriophages of C. perf ringens and other clostridia
associated with gas gangrene
In the early 1940s, Russian workers isolated bacteriophages active
against C. perfringens, C. oedematiens, C. septicum, C. histolyticum and C.
putrificus. These phages were immunogenic, caused complete lysis of indicator bacteria and lysed 96% of C. perfringens strains tested. Such phages
were used with apparent success in the phagotherapy of gas gangrene in
humans. A review of the Russian literature on this subject may be found in
the bibliography of Spencer (1953).
Tsyp et al. (1944) isolated C. perfringens bacteriophages from sewage
waters. These lysed type C organisms, but other types were not easily
lysed. In 1964, Bychkov described development of a C. perfringens bacteriophage with a head 50-60nm in diameter and a tail of 15-20nm, and a
45-50 min latent period.
A second group of papers dealing with bacteriophages of C. perfringens
originated in France. In 1947, KrCguer et al. isolated bacteriophages active
against one of four strains of C. perfringens type A. GuClin (1949) isolated
phage “M” which had a latent period of 15-20 min followed by a rising
titre of infectious particles until 60-90 min after infection. Gutlin also
noted that greater phage yields were obtained by using a low multiplicity
of infection. GuClin and KrCguer (1950) could not demonstrate any change
in toxin production in C. perfringens type A upon infection with a phage
designated 80b. Other papers by GuClin (1950a, b, 1953) discuss the isolation of phages from river water and some rather inconclusive results on
host cell morphologies. The first electron microscopy on clostridial phages
was reported by Elford et al. in 1953, when two phages of C. perfringens
were described. Phage “M” possessed a head diameter of 35 nm while
phage “W’ had a head diameter of 60 nm. Both had tail structures of
120 x 15 nm.
11
tion of DNA synthesis in the bacteriocin-treated indicator strain of C.
septicum.
A bacteriocin of the non-pathogenic organism, C. butyricum, was described by Clarke et al. (1975) and Clarke and Morris (1975). Clarke and
Morris (1 976) showed that this trypsin-sensitive bacteriocin had activity
against a number of clostridial species resulting in death but not lysis of
indicator cells. Synthesis of RNA, DNA and protein was inhibited and
membrane damage was apparent as indicated by ion leakage.
Bacteriocins of C. sporogenes (Betz and Anderson, 1964) are briefly
discussed in the Section on bacteriophages of C. sporogenes.
V. BACTERIOPHAGES O F CLOSTRIDIUM
A. Bacteriophages of C. perf ringens and other clostridia
associated with gas gangrene
In the early 1940s, Russian workers isolated bacteriophages active
against C. perfringens, C. oedematiens, C. septicum, C. histolyticum and C.
putrificus. These phages were immunogenic, caused complete lysis of indicator bacteria and lysed 96% of C. perfringens strains tested. Such phages
were used with apparent success in the phagotherapy of gas gangrene in
humans. A review of the Russian literature on this subject may be found in
the bibliography of Spencer (1953).
Tsyp et al. (1944) isolated C. perfringens bacteriophages from sewage
waters. These lysed type C organisms, but other types were not easily
lysed. In 1964, Bychkov described development of a C. perfringens bacteriophage with a head 50-60nm in diameter and a tail of 15-20nm, and a
45-50 min latent period.
A second group of papers dealing with bacteriophages of C. perfringens
originated in France. In 1947, KrCguer et al. isolated bacteriophages active
against one of four strains of C. perfringens type A. GuClin (1949) isolated
phage “M” which had a latent period of 15-20 min followed by a rising
titre of infectious particles until 60-90 min after infection. Gutlin also
noted that greater phage yields were obtained by using a low multiplicity
of infection. GuClin and KrCguer (1950) could not demonstrate any change
in toxin production in C. perfringens type A upon infection with a phage
designated 80b. Other papers by GuClin (1950a, b, 1953) discuss the isolation of phages from river water and some rather inconclusive results on
host cell morphologies. The first electron microscopy on clostridial phages
was reported by Elford et al. in 1953, when two phages of C. perfringens
were described. Phage “M” possessed a head diameter of 35 nm while
phage “W’ had a head diameter of 60 nm. Both had tail structures of
120 x 15 nm.