Antigenic changes in Vibrio cholerae biotype eltor serotype Ogawa after bacteriophage infection

Abstract

Vibrio cholerae biotype eltor serotype Ogawa cultures infected with temperate bacteriophage from lysogens of biotype eltor serotype Hikojima yielded types with altered agglutination reactions.

Genetics of Vibrio cholerae and its bacteriophages.

“…That is, strains undergo a conversion from the Ogawa serotype (AB) to the Hikojima serotype (ABC). Similar experiments revealed antigenic changes associated with CP-TI infection in El Tor Ogawa strains (92). The isolates surviving phage infection produced altered agglutination reactions and, unlike those of the classical biotype, were variable and highly unstable, with a large proportion agglutinating in anti-rough antisera.…”

“…It has also been possible to isolate serotype convertants by treating cultures with antiserum (108). More recently, Ogg et al (92,93) have implicated bacteriophage CP-T1 in a lysogenic conversion which leads to a change in the serotype of the host (see below).…”

“…Phage conversion by CP-T1 of the two cholera biotypes is markedly different (92,93). The variation in surface antigens on phage-treated El Tor strains may be due to selection of phage-resistant derivatives, which have various degrees of roughness and therefore different reactivity with the antisera.…”

Bacteriophage in the Ixodes dammini spirochete, etiological agent of Lyme disease

“…Production and release of the IDS bacteriophage appears to depend on some stress or modification of the environment, since fewer bacteriophages were observed in thin-section profiles of later subcultures. This suggests a possible capacity for latency or an increased refractiveness of the spirochete to bacteriophage infection as a result of changing surface antigens, receptor sites, or other modifications due to in vitro cultivation (3,4,12).…”