[Effect of low temperatures of the survival and intracellular multiplication of Escherichia coli bacteriophages].

The purpose of this work was to investigate the survival and intracellular growth of Escherichia coli bacteriophages phi X174, T3 and T4 subjected to freezing down to -196 degrees C. The survival was 98.4% for phage T3, 80.55% for phage phi X174, and 65.13% for phage T4. Single growth cycles, DNA and protein biosynthesis did not change in phages phi X174 and T3 after freezing. If bacteria were infected with phage T4 subjected to freezing, the rates of phage DNA and protein synthesis decreased, the latent period took more time, and phage yield decreased.