Infrared absorption spectra of Bacillus megaterium phages and host cell

Abstract

The infrared absorption spectra of six serologically different “M” bacteriophages were compared with those of the Bacillus megaterium “S” host cell. Differences in the absorption pattern between phages could not be related to previously described physical or serological properties. Distinction of the phage spectra was made possible by the exaggerated absorption at 1735 cm⁻¹ not observed with the purified tobacco mosaic virus or Escherichia coli “T” phages.

With few exceptions, characteristic spectral bands of deoxyribonucleic acid and ribonucleic acid are duplicated in the pattern of M phages. The shape of the descending slope between 1330 and 1200 K can serve as a supplementary method of differentiation between closely related M phages. Positive identification cannot be made solely by infrared spectrographic analysis.