We have found an interesting dissociation phenomenon of plaque in some viral strains of Salmonella phages. This phenomenon is considered to be important at least in the following points of view. First of all it suggests a new pattern of mutation in bacterial viruses. And secondly it suggests a new possible model of gene constitution of some bacterial viruses. Besides the characteristic pattern of this phenomenon, in the present paper will also be described some speculations for the explanation of this phenomenon and the results of recombination analysis carried out in concern with these speculations. Material and Method The viruses in question are the so-called s group viruses, as follows : S. gallinarum (Akita strain) phage Xs strain .
The recombination phenomenon in bacterial viruses was first reported by Delbruck and Baileyl~ in 1946. The problem of so-called phage genetics which developed along this line is not only becoming the most up-to-date and unique field in modern virology but is also anticipated as building a new epoch in modern genetics. However, the bacterial viruses in which the evidence of genetic recombina-tion27-7) is at present actually proved are only limited to the phage of the T-series, chiefly those with even numbers. There are still many questions as to whether this genetic phenomenon is an universal one among bacterial viruses. Furthermore, one must admit that there are many problems to be solved in the field of phage genetics itself. The authors have taken up the studies of phage genetics, and have been chiefly concerned with the problem whether the recombination phenomenon already demonstrated in the phage of T-series can also be observed in other phages. On the other hand, during the past ten years the authors8>-11) have isolated and confirmed some twenty odd species of new phages and have studied their morphological, serological and biological character. Furthermore the authors hoped to complete the systematic research concerning these phages with work in the field of genetics.
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