FIGURE 2.

Phage adsorption is strongly dependent on salt concentrations. (a) The magnesium salt is varied over four decades in concentrations φ and the free λ-phage (squares) are titered after incubating with Ymel bacteria for 6 min in each salt concentration. The different symbols (squares, circles, triangles, and diamonds) correspond to free phage, bacterium/phage complexes, the sum of free phage and bacterium/phage complexes, and initial phage concentration, respectively. (b) The total bacterium/phage complex = N_BP + N_BP* (circles) and free phage N_P (squares) concentrations as a function of adsorption time t. The MgSO₄ concentration is 10 mM. All measurements in panels a and b were carried out in room temperature.