Adsorption of Bacteriophages to Homologous Bacteria 



been attained. If no saturation is observable in such a series of experiments, even 

 with the highest initial concentrations of phages obtainable, then the concentra- 

 tion of bacteria must be decreased in a second series of experiments. In that 

 event, of course, the reaction time must be correspondingly prolonged. 



Table IV. Bacterial Concentration 5.0 X 10''. Reaction Time: 1 Day. 



The experimental results are summarized in Tables IV to VII. The experi- 

 ments were carried out with different dilutions of a three-hour broth culture of 

 coH 88, heat-killed at 70°, containing 1.0 X 10» bacteria/ml (Table IV-VI) and 

 with a dilution of a similar culture containing 1.8 X 10* bacteria ml (Table VII). 

 As controls, samples or dilutions of the lysates were always placed in the incu- 

 bator and their titers similarly determined at the conclusion of the experiments; 

 these titers always agreed with the earlier assays of the lysates. 



It follows from the data of Table IV that the saturation capacity must be at 

 least 10, while the data of Table V show that this capacity must exceed at least 

 90. In the last two tables, the region of saturation has been attained, and their 

 third and second lines, respectively, permit a more exact estimation. According 

 to Table VI, 1.0 X 106 bacteria are saturated by (2.2 - 0.8) X 10« bacterio- 

 phages. Hence, one bacterium is saturated by I40 phage particles. Similarly, it 

 follows from the data of Table VII that the saturation capacity has the value of 130. 



31 



