Effect of Human Sera on the Propagation of Staphylococcal Bacteriophages.

Several investigators (Gratia and Jaiman, 1921; Colvin, 1932) have noted the failure of lysis of susceptible bacteria by bacteriophage in various body fluids. In studies with mycobacteriophages (White and Knight, 1959) it was shown that a factor precipitated by ammonium sulfate in the y-globulin fraction of human serum prevented propagation by mycobacteriophage D-29 on human tubercle bacilli. In these studies, serum did not neutralize phage D-29 and did not prevent attachment of phage to tubercle bacilli. Since it was also found that serum prevented propagation of phage D-29 on human tubercle bacilli but not on Mycobacterium ATCC 607, it was concluded that serum probably acted on the tubercle bacilli after adsorption had occurred. Studies have now been completed on the effect of serum on the propagation of staphylococcal bacteriophages which demonstrate that human serum prevents propagation of staphylococcal bacteriophages apparently by acting on the staphylococcus after adsorption has occurred.