Characterization and Persistence of Actinophage RP2 Isolated from Streptomyces rimosus ATCC 10970

Summary: While searching for true lysogens among oxytetracycline-producing Streptomyces rimosus strains, free phage particles were detected and isolated from a liquid culture of S. rimosus ATCC 10970 (R7). The actinophage, designated RP2, appears to be a typical temperate DNA phage producing turbid plaques on the sensitive strain S. rimosus R6. Electron microscopic examination of RP2 lysates showed that it belongs to group B of Bradley's morphological classification. The rate of RP2 adsorption at 28 0C appeared to be low. The length of the latent period was about 6h and the average burst size about 120 phage particles.