LYTIC INFECTION OF ESCHERICHIA-COLI BIOFILMS BY BACTERIOPHAGE-T4

Escherichia coli 3000 XIII formed biofilms on the surface of polyvinyl chloride coupons in a modified Robbins device. Bacteriophage T4D(+) in fected cells in the biofilm and replicated It is commonly held that ba cteriophage cannot infect surface-attached bacteria (biofilms) because such bacteria are protected by an exopolymeric matrix that binds macr omolecules and prevents their diffusion into the biofilm. To our knowl edge this is the first observation that a bacteriophage can infect and multiply within cells growing as a biofilm.