Inhibition of T4 bacteriophage multiplication by superinfecting ghosts and the development of tolerance after bacteriophage infection.

Simultaneous addition of T4 phage and ghosts to host cells prevents infective center formation. Cells which have been infected with phage for less than 2 min are also inhibited by superinfecting ghosts. After this time, a chloramphenicol-inhibitable reaction occurs which causes the phage-infected cells to become increasingly tolerant of added ghosts.