Preliminary observations of a bacteriophage infecting Xenorhabdus luminescens (Enterobacteriaceae)

Abstract

A bacteriophage infective to Xenorhabdus luminescens, a bacterial symbiont of heterorhabditid nematodes, was recovered from insects that supported poor nematode development. Plaque tests showed the phage particles to be infective only to primary and not secondary colonies of X. luminescens. The phage was not infective to X. nematophilus primaries or secondaries. The bacteriophage particles ranged 80-90 nm in length, with the head ranging from 40 to 50 nm in diameter. Restriction analysis was performed on isolated bacteriophage DNA. This first report of a bacteriophage from Xenorhabdus species has practical implications since it could be detrimental to cultures of Heterorhabditis nematodes that are being produced throughout the world for the biological control of insects.