@article{mbs:/content/journal/micro/10.1099/00221287-130-8-2059, author = "Timme, Terry L. and Brennan, Patrick J.", title = "Induction of Bacteriophage from Members of the Mycobacterium avium, Mycobacterium intracellulare, Mycobacterium scrofulaceum Serocomplex", journal= "Microbiology", year = "1984", volume = "130", number = "8", pages = "2059-2066", doi = "https://doi.org/10.1099/00221287-130-8-2059", url = "https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/micro/10.1099/00221287-130-8-2059", publisher = "Microbiology Society", issn = "1465-2080", type = "Journal Article", abstract = "Bacteriophages have been induced from strains in the Mycobacterium avium, Mycobacterium intracellulare, Mycobacterium scrofulaceum serocomplex by exposure of cultures to UV light or treatment with mitomycin C. One-sixth of the strains examined, representing all but one of the 31 authenticated serotypes, were found to possess phages lytic for a Mycobacterium smegmatis indicator strain. Four single-plaque isolated phages, TM4, TM9, TM10 and TM20, were purified and shown to have a similar morphology on electron micrographs. They had an isometric head of diameter 50–58 nm and a flexible non-contractile tail about 170 nm in length with a terminal bulb. All had an identical buoyant density in CsCl of 1·521 g cm−3 and extreme sensitivity to chloroform. The induced phages differed in host range and possessed the unique ability to lyse other members of the serocomplex. Interest in these phages centres on a possible role in mediating genetic interrelationships between members of the serocomplex.", }