[Bacteriophages of serologic group A converting synthesis of staphylokinase and beta toxin in S. aureus]

The properties of the eight S. aureus bacteriophages of the serogroup A converting staphylokinase production were investigated. Three of them were able to a double conversion: production of the staphylokinase and inhibition of beta toxin synthesis. All of the investigated bacteriophages were classified as the I morphological group of the Styloviridae on the basis of the electron microscope analysis. The size of capsids of the examined bacteriophages was 77 +/- 2.8 nm x 43.1 +/- 1.9 nm and the tail length was 272.7 +/- 12.7 nm. Most of them (6 bacteriophages) had the tail terminated in the basal plate. The lytic properties of the investigated bacteriophages were not identical. Seven of them showed features of the III and one of the V (miscellaneous) lytic group.