title: A quantifiable phenotype of viral propagation.
abstract: A system has been identified where a virus, replicating continuously on its host, displays a distinct and quantifiable phenotype, and thereby continuously reports on the state of the virus-host relationship. When bacteriophage T7 is plated out with its host, Escherichia coli, it establishes a constant-velocity infection wave, which is driven by an autocatalytic reaction-diffusion mechanism. The velocity--which is easily measured--continuously reflects the infection environment. The simplicity of the system extends to the investigator an unprecedented ability to monitor and control a viral infection process.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Department of Biochemical Kinetics, Göttingen, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yin
mesh_terms: D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D007700:Kinetics; D010641:Phenotype; D013604:T-Phages / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D014779:Virus Replication