[Morphology of the temperate plague phages 1701 and 1710 and their mutants]

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Virology
• Bacteriology

Background:

• Plague is a serious infectious disease caused by Yersinia pestis.
• Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria and play a role in bacterial evolution.
• Understanding bacteriophage morphology is crucial for classification and understanding host interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and compare the morphology of plague moderate bacteriophages 1701 and 1710 and their respective mutants (1701-1 and 1710-1).
• To determine the taxonomic group and potential relationships of these bacteriophages based on morphological characteristics.

Main Methods:

• Morphological analysis of bacteriophages using electron microscopy.
• Comparative analysis of phage structures and features.
• Serological property assessment.

Main Results:

• Bacteriophages 1701, 1710, and their mutants 1701-1 and 1710-1 were morphologically identical.
• The studied phages were classified into group 5.
• Morphological identity and shared serological properties indicated a close affinity with moderate plague H-phages.

Conclusions:

• Plague moderate bacteriophages 1701 and 1710, along with their mutants, exhibit conserved morphology.
• These phages share significant characteristics with moderate plague H-phages, suggesting a common lineage or close evolutionary relationship.