A Generalized Transducing Phage of <i>Serratia marcescens</i>

Abstract

ABSTRACT A temperate phage, phage PS20, which originated in a lysogenic strain of Serratia marcescens was established to be able to transduce various auxotrophic markers in S. marcescens strains at an equal frequency which ranged from 10 –6 to 10 –7 per infected cell. Electron microscopic observations show that phage PS20 has a head (550 A) hexagonal in outline and a tail (1000 A × 150 A) with a contractile sheath which is attached to the head.