Isolation and preliminary characterization of lytic and lysogenic phages with wide host range within the streptomycetes.

Examination of approximately 700 soil samples yielded about 100 actinophages. Restriction analysis of phage DNA indicated that 57 are unique, and of these, 20 produce turbid plaques on one or more of the streptomycetes tested. Five phages are shown to insert into the genome of Streptomyces avermitilis. None of the phages was able to perform generalized transduction of S. avermitilis.