Characterization of a virulent bacteriophage for Bacillus subtilis (var. amyloliquefaciens).

A phage, designated PBA12, has been isolated from the soil and found to be virulent on Bacillus subtilis (var. amyloliquefaciens). PBA12 has a large cylindrical head that is 100 nm long and 35 nm in diameter and a tail that is 200 nm in length. The phage contains double-stranded DNA and demonstrates chloroform sensitivity. The processes of both adsorption and replication appear to be slow and inefficient.