STUDIES ON REGENERATION OF BACTERIOPHAGE : I. THE INFLUENCE OF PARTIAL ANAEROBIOSIS UPON REGENERATION OF A HIGHLY DILUTED LYTIC PRINCIPLE.

The regeneration of an extreme dilution of bacteriophage in a large volume of broth, as described by Gratia and De Kruif, is due to the influence of partial anaerobiosis upon the regeneration of the principle. The influence of partial anaerobiosis upon regeneration of an extremely diluted bacteriophage was investigated in relation to different factors with the following results. 1. The See PDF for Equation. expresses the degree of anaerobiosis necessary for regeneration of an extreme dilution of the bacteriophage. An increase in this ratio interferes with regeneration. 2. The regeneration of the highly diluted bacteriophage under partial anaerobiosis begins definitely at the 3rd hour of bacterial growth and is completed after about the 6th hour. 3. To obtain the full regeneration of an extreme dilution of bacteriophage it is sufficient to restrict for one hour the supply of air to a culture containing it, providing that this restriction be produced within the first 3 hours of the bacterial growth.