The Inactivation of Bacteriophage by Mercury Bichloride; the Reactivation of Bichloride-inactivated Phage

1. The inactivation of antistaphylococcus bacteriophage suspended in infusion broth at pH 7.6 and 22 degrees C. by HgCl(2) proceeds according to the equation dP/dt = k [HgCl(2)] [P(o) - P(i)] over the range studied. 2. This inactivation can be reversed by precipitation of Hg(++) with H(2)S. In the present experiments the inactivation was carried out until only some 5 per cent of the initial phage remained active. After reactivation the [P] had increased to 100 per cent of the initial [P].