[Isolation of bacteriophages of methane oxidizing bacteria and study of their properties].

Five strains of bacteriophages were isolated for the first time in the USSR from the water of ponds, the paste of methane oxidizing bacteria and the cultural broth of the experimental plant. The strains are specific of the following species: Methylostinus sporium, Methylosinus trichosporium, and Flavobacterium gasotypicum. Bacteriophages lysing Methylocystis impression. Methylomonas agile and Methylococcus capsulatus were not isolated so far. The fine structure of the phages, the shape of negative colonies, the spectrum of lytic activity, and serological properties were studied. The phages can be subdivided into two groups according to the morphology of virions, the shape of negative colonies and serological properties, or into three groups according to the spectrum of lytic activity.