Phage typing of Bacillus subtilis and B. thuringiensis

Abstract

Phage typing schemes for Bacillus subtilis and B. thuringiensis were constructed using 98 phages and 743 bacterial strains. Most phages were host-species-specific. Phages were classified by electron microscopy. The B. subtilis scheme includes 10 phages and 29 phage types. The B. thuringiensis scheme comprises 8 phages and 25 phage types and can be applied to B. cereus. There is no correlation between H antigen serotypes and phagovars in B. thuringiensis. Characteristics of typing phages are described for identity control.