title: Replication of coliphage Q beta as affected by host cell number, nutrition, competition from insusceptible cells and non-FRNA coliphages.
abstract: F-specific RNA (FRNA) coliphages, which infect Escherichia coli by attachment to F pili, might serve as indicators of human enteric viruses in groundwater, provided these phages do not replicate in groundwater and replicate only to a limited extent in wastewater. Several factors that could influence phage replication in either of these environments were examined. Q beta did not replicate when host cells were fewer than 10(4) cfu ml-1. Replication selected for insusceptible cells when Q beta was incubated with its E. coli host. Loss of Q beta, presumably by inactivation, occurred in autoclaved on-site and urban wastewater, autoclaved groundwater, and in filter-sterilized spent LB broth. Replication did not occur in LB broth diluted with sterile saline to 1% of its original strength, which indicates that replication of FRNA coliphages cannot occur in such nutrient-poor environments as wastewater and groundwater. Competition from non-FRNA coliphages and insusceptible cells tended to reduce Q beta replication, as predicted, but phage yields unexpectedly increased significantly when Enterococcus faecalis was added to cultures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Woody
authors.forename: D O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Cliver
mesh_terms: D017908:Allolevivirus / Q000502:physiology*; D003090:Coliphages / Q000502:physiology*; D003470:Culture Media; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D011551:Pseudomonas fluorescens; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000502:physiology*; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D014867:Water