Ultraviolet Irradiation of Bacteriophage During Intracellular Growth

Abstract

In this paper, Luria and Latarjet described a subpopulation of E. coli, strain B infected with bacteriophage T2, with increased resistance to UV. They indicated that the infected bacteria initially showed a rapid increase in resistance due to increased resistance of the intracellular phage particles, possibly caused by accumulation of ultraviolet-absorbing material around the phage. With time, the resistance of infected bacteria to high doses of radiation decreases, likely indicating that, as phage multiplication proceeds, the apparent sensitivity of the intracellular phage particles returns to higher values. Luria spent the 1945-1946 academic year on leave in Cold Spring Harbor, directing a government research project on bacterial resistance to antibiotics. The research produced several papers, including this one.