Aggregates of bacteriophage 0305phi8-36 seed future growth.
Lytic bacteriophage 0305phi8-36 forms visually observed aggregates during plaque formation. Aggregates intrinsically lower propagation potential. In the present study, the following observations indicate that lost propagation potential is regained with time: (1) Aggregates sometimes concentrate at the edge of clear plaques. (2) A semi-clear ring sometimes forms beyond the plaques. (3) Formation of a ring is completely correlated with the presence of aggregates at the same angular displacement along the plaque edge. To explain this aggregate-derived lowering/raising of propagation potential, the following hypothesis is presented: Aggregation/dissociation of bacteriophage of 0305phi8-36 is a selected phenomenon that evolved to maintain high host finding rate in a trade-off with maintaining high rate of bacteriophage progeny production. This hypothesis explains ringed plaque morphology observed for other bacteriophages and predicts that aggregates will undergo time-dependent change in structure as propagation potential increases. In support, fluorescence microscopy reveals time-dependent change in the distance between resolution-limited particles in aggregates.
Serwer
Philip
P
Department of Biochemistry, The University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900, USA. serwer@uthscsa.edu
Hayes
Shirley J
SJ
Lieman
Karen
K
D017103:Bacillus Phages / Q000254:growth & development*; D001413:Bacillus thuringiensis / Q000821:virology*; D001433:Bacteriolysis; D010948:Viral Plaque Assay / Q000379:methods; D014776:Virus Cultivation / Q000379:methods