[Antibacterial activity and bacteriophages of Bacillus pumilus]

Inducable defective phages analogous to those in Bac. subtilis were found in 5 strains of Bac. pumilus, 3 of which possessed antibacterial activity. A moderate bacteriophage was also induced in addition to the defective phage in strain ATCC 12140 not producing the antibiotic. It was found that the antibacterial activity was not associated with the presence of phages in the cultures. The data on the electron microscopic investigations are presented.