Outgrowth of Bacillus cereus spores harboring bacteriophage CP-51 DNA. I. Initiation of bacteriophage development.

Time of initiation of bacteriophage CP-51 RNA synthesis, inhibition of host DNA synthesis, initiation of CP-51 DNA synthesis, and release of phage was determined in infected Bacillus cereus cells and outgrowing spores harboring phage DNA. The development of phage in outgrowing spores is initiated 45 min after induction of spore germination and then proceeds at a rate similar to that observed in infected cells. Although spore RNA synthesis is inhibited by the presence of chloramphenicol or puromycin during germination, these antibiotics do not inhibit initiation of phage DNA transcription in outgrowing spores.