EC Microbiology

The objective of my article is to understand the genetic continuity of two different bacteriophages (virus) phiX174 and M13 by being in their sensitive bacterial hosts, E. coli C or E. coli K-12. The shape of these phage also differs, phiX174 hexagonal and the male- specific phage M13 cylindrical. Interestingly, their genomes prevail as single stranded DNA but in a covalently closed circular form but with an ability to multiply in the sensitive E. coli strain to produce the progeny of their kind. These two strains of E. coli carry the same chromosome of length 4637Kb, even their DNA sequences do not differ. However, the E. coli C carries an extra-operon for the metabolism of low-calorie sugar XYLITOL but also adding a genetic ability to grow in three phases: pre- competent, competent and the post-competent like eukaryotes. There is no requirement of any uptake of exogenous DNA fragments, single or double from their growth environment to change their genetic ability.

 Keywords: Bacteriophage phiX174; Male-Specific Phage M13; DNA Genome; Xylitol (Food Additive); Growth Phase

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