Adsorption of actinophage Pal 6 to developing mycelium of Streptomyces albus.

The adsorption of actinophage Pal 6 to mycelium of different ages was studied. The rate of phage adsorption to germinating spores increased with age, being maximal at about 4 h after start of germination. The number of plaque forming units (PFU) attached to mycelium had apparently decreased later, while the phage titer in the medium supernatant was also drastically reduced. These contradictory findings were explained by the increase in the adsorption capacity of the mature mycelium due to the formation of clumps, made of network structure which adsorbed many phages, but were counted as only 1 PFU each. The growth curve of the phage in fully developed mycelium and in germinating spores were compared.