title: HF1 and HF2: novel bacteriophages of halophilic archaea.
abstract: Two novel halophilic archaebacterial bacteriophages, HF1 and HF2, were isolated from an Australian solar saltern. They were morphologically identical with icosahedral-shaped heads (diameter 58 nm) and contractile tails (length 94 nm). Other similarities included sensitivity to reduced ionic conditions, similar protein profiles by SDS-PAGE, and dsDNA genomes of identical size (73.5 kbp) with analogous restriction patterns. DNA-DNA hybridization data showed the two phages to be closely related. HF1 has a broad host-range, infecting members of three halobacterial genera including Halobacterium salinarium and the genetically well-characterized strain Haloferax volcanii WFD11. Mutants showing increased plating efficiency on alternative hosts were readily selectable. By contrast, HF2 showed a limited host range, confined to the closely related dam-methylated strains Ch2 and H. saccharovorum.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Nuttall
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Dyall-Smith
mesh_terms: D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002725:Chloroform / Q000494:pharmacology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D015252:Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific / Q000378:metabolism; D016679:Genome, Viral; D016931:Halobacteriales; D012964:Sodium / Q000494:pharmacology; D013045:Species Specificity; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins; D002725:Chloroform; D012964:Sodium; D015252:Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific