title: Isolation and characterization of a generalized transducing phage for Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris.
abstract: We have isolated and characterized a lytic double-stranded DNA Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris bacteriophage (XTP1) capable of mediating generalized transduction. The phage transduces chromosomal markers at frequencies of 10(-5) to 10(-6) transductants per PFU. We demonstrated its genetic utility by the isolation and cotransduction of linked transposon insertions to a nonselectable locus, xgl, required for the cleavage of 5-bromo-3-chloro-indoyl-beta-D-galactoside and showed that rif and str alleles in X. campestris are 75% linked. One-step growth experiments showed that the latent and rise periods were each 2 h and the average burst size was 35. The DNA genome is approximately 180 kb, presumably modified in a sequence-specific manner, and may be covalently attached to protein(s). Electron micrographs show the phage particle to have an icosahedral head and contractile tail with tail fibers uniquely attached to a location 40 nm proximal from the end of the tail.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Maryland, College Park 20742.
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Capage
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kessel
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Benson
mesh_terms: D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004267:DNA Viruses / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005697:Galactosides / Q000378:metabolism; D016679:Genome, Viral; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D014161:Transduction, Genetic; D014779:Virus Replication; D016959:Xanthomonas campestris / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D005697:Galactosides