THE PHOTODYNAMIC INACTIVATION OF PHAGE PRECURSOR BY METHYLENE BLUE.

Methylene blue added to suspensions of activated staphylococci in amounts sufficient to furnish 1 x 10(5) molecules of dye/bacterium inactivates the phage precursor content of the cells without causing cell death when the mixtures are exposed to strong light of 4000-8000 A. There is a lag phase of approximately 15 minutes in the photodynamic inactivation of phage precursor by methylene blue. This delay seems to be due to a primary reaction between the cell and methylene blue after the completion of which exposure to light brings about the inactivation of precursor quite promptly.