Isolation of "cyanophages" from freshwater ponds and their interaction with Plectonema boryanum

Etana Padan*, Moshe Shilo, Naomi Kislev

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

41 Scopus citations

Abstract

Viruses active against Plectonema boryanum (cyanophages) were isolated from freshwater ponds in Israel. On the basis of host specificity, DNA content, and fine structure, one of the viruses appears to be related or identical to the virus studied by Safferman and Morris (1963, 1964a), Schneider et al. (1964), and Smith et al. (1966a, b). The resistance of a mutant Plectonema strain to both viruses further strengthens this assumption. The anatomy of the cyanophages, their mode of attachment as revealed by electron microscopic examination, and the mechanism underlying resistance of the host Plectonema cell indicate a great similarity to the bacteriophages. The experiments also suggest that virus-induced lysis may provide a delicate means for study of the fine structure of susceptible algae, particularly the organization of the photosynthetic apparatus.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)234-246
Number of pages13
JournalVirology
Volume32
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1967

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