Bacteriophage M: an incompatibility group M plasmid-specific phage.
Phage M was specific for bacterial strains, of various genera, harbouring plasmids of the M incompatibility group. It formed turbid plaques which varied from pin point to more than 2 mm in diameter on all hosts where plaques were detected. The phage had an hexagonal outline with a diameter of 27 nm. It contained RNA but differed from other plasmid-dependent RNA phages in being sensitive to chloroform. It adsorbed along the length of shafts of M pili.
D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010861:Fimbriae, Bacterial / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010957:Plasmids; D012317:RNA Phages / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014771:Virion / Q000648:ultrastructure