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Populations of the bacterium Escherichia coli and of its phage λvir appeared to equilibrate in continuous cultures. The bacterial end-populations were heterogeneous in respect of their resistance to λvir and their ability to utilize maltose. The most competitive of the selected bacteria were mutants which had a reduced rate of synthesis of λ-receptor so as to become highly, but not totally, resistant to the phage. The coexisting phage had an increased affinity for the receptor and an altered antigenic specificity, suggesting adaptation of its adsorption site in response to the evolution of resistance in the bacteria.
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