Temperate phage induction and filament formation in Vibrio cholerae by furazolidone

Furazolidone a synthetic nitrofuran used in the treatment of cholera, was found to cause prophage induction and filament formation in Vibrio cholerae. Maximum induction of phage beta was obtained at a drug concentration of 0.5 microgram/ml. Neither induction of prophage nor filamentation took place if the drug treatment was carried out in the presence of 2.5 micrograms/ml chloramphenicol, indicating a requirement for de novo protein synthesis. Our results strongly suggest the existence of "SOS" type functions in Vibrio cholerae.