Morphological Description of a Bacteriophage of Extraordinary Dimensions, Active on B. megatherium

摘要

A phage of unusual dimensions, active on B. megatherium is described. It has been identified in lysates of B. megatherium together with phage α , but, so far, it has not been possible to culture it sepa rately. It has been possible to describe the contractile mechanism of the tail as a result of morphological studies done with the aid of the electron microscope. The head, octahedral in shape (a shape never before observed in other viruses) has an edge 0.14μ long.