title: Conversion by corynephages and its role in the natural history of diphtheria.
abstract: The conversion of non-toxinogenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae to toxinogeny has been reviewed. The biology of converting phage and the relationship of converting phages to nonconverting phages are summarized. The significance of these findings to the natural history and evolution of diphtheria is assessed.
mesh_terms: D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D005075:Biological Evolution; D003353:Corynebacterium diphtheriae / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004165:Diphtheria / Q000382:microbiology*; D005814:Genes, Viral; D006801:Humans; D008242:Lysogeny; D009154:Mutation; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D013045:Species Specificity