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Cargill EJ, Happold TR, Bertani G, Rocha J, Lou MF, Pomp D, Nielsen MK. Localization of a recessive juvenile cataract mutation to proximal chromosome 7 in mice. Hum Hered 2001; 52:77-82. [PMID: 11474208 DOI: 10.1159/000053358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To localize the chromosomal position of a novel cataract mutation (juvenile recessive cataract; jrc) in mice. METHODS A mapping population was developed by crossing cataract males (albino MH) to wild-type females (black C57BL/6J). F1 females were backcrossed to albino MH males with cataracts. RESULTS The results were consistent with a model of a single autosomal recessive gene [153 cataract, 169 wild-type; chi2 = 0.8, 1 degree of freedom (d.f.), p > 0.35]. Linkage with the albino (tyrosinase; Tyr) locus was evident (chi2 = 61.5, 1 d.f., p < 0.0001), implicating chromosome 7 as the location of jrc. Recombination percentages (+/- SE) between jrc and D7Mit340 (1.2 cM location), D7Mit227 (16.0 cM) and D7Mit270 (18.0 cM) were 17.1 +/- 2.1, 3.7 +/- 1.1 and 6.2 +/- 1.3%, respectively. Multi-point mapping determined that the most likely order of these loci is D7Mit340 - jrc - D7Mit227 - D7Mit270 - Tyr. Although animals with the mutant phenotype appeared to have little or no sense of sight, their growth was not different (p >0.20) from that of normal mice. CONCLUSION The jrc mutation model may be useful in the study of the genetics of cataracts in other animal species, including humans.
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Eiserling F, Pushkin A, Gingery M, Bertani G. Bacteriophage-like particles associated with the gene transfer agent of methanococcus voltae PS. J Gen Virol 1999; 80 ( Pt 12):3305-3308. [PMID: 10567664 DOI: 10.1099/0022-1317-80-12-3305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The methanogenic archaeobacterium Methanococcus voltae (strain PS) is known to produce a filterable, DNase-resistant agent (called VTA, for voltae transfer agent), which carries very small fragments (4400 bp) of bacterial DNA and is able to transduce bacterial genes between derivatives of the strain. Examination by electron microscopy of two preparations of VTA that were concentrated and partially purified by different methods showed virus-like particles with isometric heads, about 40 nm in diameter, and with 61 nm long tails. These particles co-sedimented with the minute bacteriophage φX174 in a sucrose density gradient.
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Gobbi G, Pini A, Bertani G, Menegati E, Tiberti A, Valseriati D, Besana D, Rasmini P, Guerrini R, Belmonte A, Veggiotti P, Resi C, Lanzi G, Capovilla G, Galeone D, Milani S. Prospective study of first-line vigabatrin monotherapy in childhood partial epilepsies. Epilepsy Res 1999; 35:29-37. [PMID: 10232792 DOI: 10.1016/s0920-1211(98)00124-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
This was a prospective open comparative pilot study to assess the efficacy and tolerability of first-line vigabatrin monotherapy in childhood partial epilepsies. Two groups of patients were recruited over the same period. The vigabatrin monotherapy group comprised 40 patients (18 male, 22 female; mean age at last visit 7.5 years); the comparative carbamazepine monotherapy group comprised 40 consecutive clinic patients (22 male, 18 female; mean age at last visit 7.8 years). Seizures disappeared in 82% of vigabatrin patients and in all carbamazepine patients with idiopathic partial epilepsy, and in 50% of vigabatrin patients and 55% of carbamazepine patients with symptomatic partial epilepsy. Interictal EEG abnormalities decreased in vigabatrin patients more than in carbamazepine patients (P < 0.05). Tolerability was good in vigabatrin patients, but four out of 37 showed mild irritability by the end of the trial. Persistent sedation was observed in eight of the 40 patients receiving carbamazepine. No patient had drug therapy discontinued because of side-effects. During vigabatrin long-term monotherapy, efficacy and good clinical tolerability were maintained. These results suggest that vigabatrin may be an alternative first-line treatment for childhood partial epilepsies. Further blinded comparative randomized trials are needed.
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Bertani G. Transduction-like gene transfer in the methanogen Methanococcus voltae. J Bacteriol 1999; 181:2992-3002. [PMID: 10321998 PMCID: PMC93752 DOI: 10.1128/jb.181.10.2992-3002.1999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/1998] [Accepted: 03/01/1999] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Strain PS of Methanococcus voltae (a methanogenic, anaerobic archaebacterium) was shown to generate spontaneously 4.4-kbp chromosomal DNA fragments that are fully protected from DNase and that, upon contact with a cell, transform it genetically. This activity, here called VTA (voltae transfer agent), affects all markers tested: three different auxotrophies (histidine, purine, and cobalamin) and resistance to BES (2-bromoethanesulfonate, an inhibitor of methanogenesis). VTA was most effectively prepared by culture filtration. This process disrupted a fraction of the M. voltae cells (which have only an S-layer covering their cytoplasmic membrane). VTA was rapidly inactivated upon storage. VTA particles were present in cultures at concentrations of approximately two per cell. Gene transfer activity varied from a minimum of 2 x 10(-5) (BES resistance) to a maximum of 10(-3) (histidine independence) per donor cell. Very little VTA was found free in culture supernatants. The phenomenon is functionally similar to generalized transduction, but there is no evidence, for the time being, of intrinsically viral (i.e., containing a complete viral genome) particles. Consideration of VTA DNA size makes the existence of such viral particles unlikely. If they exist, they must be relatively few in number;perhaps they differ from VTA particles in size and other properties and thus escaped detection. Digestion of VTA DNA with the AluI restriction enzyme suggests that it is a random sample of the bacterial DNA, except for a 0.9-kbp sequence which is amplified relative to the rest of the bacterial chromosome. A VTA-sized DNA fraction was demonstrated in a few other isolates of M. voltae.
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Pini A, Bertani G, Gobbi G. Differential diagnosis of ataxic syndromes in childhood: a five years experience of the Child Neurology and Psychiatry Service in Reggio Emilia. Neuromuscul Disord 1997. [DOI: 10.1016/s0960-8966(97)87283-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Gerosa J, Budich M, Diaz Mendoza G, Vila O, Orozco R, Bertani G. Treatment with rInterferon ALFA-2b in patients with renal cell cancer, after surgery. Eur J Cancer 1993. [DOI: 10.1016/0959-8049(93)90858-d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Abstract
Mutations causing requirements for histidine, purine, and vitamin B12 were obtained in strain PS of Methanococcus voltae (archaebacteria) upon irradiation with UV or gamma rays. The first two mutations were shown to revert at low frequencies and were used to demonstrate the occurrence of transformation with homologous, wild-type DNA. The transformation rates obtained for these presumably chromosomal markers were in the range of 2 to 100 transformants per microgram of DNA. Mutants resistant to 2-bromoethanesulfonate and to 5-methyl-DL-tryptophan were also isolated.
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Lundqvist B, Bertani G. Immunity repressor of bacteriophage P2. Identification and DNA-binding activity. J Mol Biol 1984; 178:629-51. [PMID: 6492160 DOI: 10.1016/0022-2836(84)90242-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
The product of gene C of the temperate bacteriophage P2, the immunity repressor, can be detected as a unique band eluting from phosphocellulose columns at 0.12 M-potassium phosphate when differentially labelled with a radioactive amino acid: the band is absent when phages that either have lost gene C through deletion or carry a suppressor-sensitive mutation in the gene are used. The repressor in its monomeric form is about 11,000 in molecular weight. At near physiological salt concentrations, the form predominantly recovered is the dimer. In filter-binding assays, the partially purified repressor binds wild-type P2 DNA strongly. It does not bind DNA of P2 vir94, a deletion that removes all the genetic elements involved in the regulation of lysogeny; it also does not bind, or binds inefficiently, DNA of P2 vir3, a mutation in the operator that controls the early replicative functions of P2. At the concentrations employed, the dimer is the active form in binding. The P2 repressor clearly differs in several features from the well-studied immunity repressor of bacteriophage lambda.
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Nicoletti M, Bertani G. DNA fusion product of phage P2 with plasmid pBR322: a new phasmid. MOLECULAR & GENERAL GENETICS : MGG 1983; 189:343-7. [PMID: 6343796 DOI: 10.1007/bf00337829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The chromosome of the temperate bacteriophage P2 and that of the plasmid pBR322 have been joined in vitro after treatment with restriction endonuclease EcoRI. The fusion product - a phasmid - can behave as a plasmid, as a phage and as a prophage. It can replicate its DNA under the control of either the specific replication mechanism of the parent phage in a polA mutant or that of the parent plasmid in a rep mutant. Several interesting interactions between the two replication modes are indicated. In particular, phage particles may be produced even when the phage mode of DNA replication is blocked, and this throws new light on the involvement of the early gene A in the regulation of late gene expression in phage P2.
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Settembrini PG, Spreafico G, Thiene G, Bertani G, Piciocchi C, Roviaro GC. [Remote results and critical review of the use of the Sparks-Mandril prosthesis]. MINERVA CHIR 1980; 35:1461-70. [PMID: 7219767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Long-term clinical results and pathologic features, both macroscopic and microscopic, of 24 Sparks-Mandril grafts as femoro-popliteal substitutes are reviewed. High rate of complications and low percentage of patency are stressed. Further use of this graft is not recommended.
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Settembrini PG, Spreafico G, Feltrin GP, Maffessanti MM, Maschio M, Bertani G, Baccaglini U, Sandei F. [Use of the human umbilical vein as a vascular prosthesis. Experimental study]. MINERVA CHIR 1980; 35:627-40. [PMID: 7383384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The possible use of the human umbelical vein as a vascular transplant, following appropriate chemico-physical treatment is discussed. The properties of this new prosthesis have been studied on the basis, first, of physical and dynamic tests and, thereafter, following experimental intervention on 12 dogs in which a segment of the abdominal aorta was replaced. The animals were angiographed at varying times from the operation, up to a maximum of 8 months, and finally sacrificed for thorough histological study using various techniques.
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Hudnik-Plevnik T, Bertani G. Recombination in bacteriophage P2: recA dependent enhancement by ultraviolet irradiation and by transfection with mixed DNA dimers. MOLECULAR & GENERAL GENETICS : MGG 1980; 178:131-41. [PMID: 6929945 DOI: 10.1007/bf00267221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Bacteriophage P2 is known for its exceptionally low rate of spontaneous (non-integrative) recombination, which however may be stimulated by ultraviolet irradiation of the phage. We show here that ligated dimers, made in vitro from mixtures of DNAs of two P2 mutants, upon transfection of lysozyme-spheroplasts give origin to recombinants at high frequency. While spontaneous P2 recombination occurs independently of the main recombination pathway of the bacteria, P2 recombinant formation following either ultraviolet irradiation or transfection with DNA dimers requires at least some element of such a pathway, since it is absent or greatly reduced in recA- bacteria or spheroplasts. It would seen that, in the course of its lytic development, P2 deploys a mechanism that inhibits the main recombination pathway of the host cell, or assumes DNA configurations refractory to it.
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Chattoraj DK, Bertani G. Further physical characterization of deletion and substitution mutants affecting the control of lysogeny in bacteriophage P2. MOLECULAR & GENERAL GENETICS : MGG 1980; 178:85-90. [PMID: 6991882 DOI: 10.1007/bf00267216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
A deletion of phage P2, del6 (L.E. Bertani, 1980), thought to remove the structural gene int, and a deletion/substitution, vir94, thought to remove genes int, C and cox, were mapped by electron microscopy, using the heteroduplex technique. Four independent deletion/substitution mutations, all affecting the regulatory region of P2, were compared in all possible combinations with the same technique: two showed sequence homology in their substitution DNA. The results confirm the model proposed for the origin of these mutants, analogous to that for the origin of transducing variants in phage lambda, but suggest in first approximation that the exchange between the P2 DNA and the chromosome of the host bacterium may occur at several different bacterial sites. A map of the regulatory region of P2, based on all data available from the study of deletions and insertions, is presented.
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Bertani G, Chattoraj DK. Tandem pentuplication of a DNA segment in a derivative of bacteriophage P2: its use in the study of the mechanism of DNA annealing. Nucleic Acids Res 1980; 8:1339-56. [PMID: 7433123 PMCID: PMC323995 DOI: 10.1093/nar/8.6.1339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
From a tandem duplication mutant of phage P2, triplication, quadruplication and pentuplication forms were derived. They were recognized by decreased virion heat stability resulting from the increase in DNA content, and were confirmed by electron microscope heteroduplex mapping. These forms of partially repeated DNA are quite stable in P2 because of the low level of recombination typical of this phage. Under conditions normally employed for full DNA renaturation, these high order repeat chromosomes gave often incomplete renaturation over the repeated segments. Based on current models for DNA renaturation, several predictions were made and tested. The results, although not quantitatively exhaustive, indicated that base pairing proceeding from a nucleation site was sufficiently slow to allow a second nucleation to occur with a fair probability over a length of a few thousand base pairs.
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Bertani G, Ljungquist E, Jagusztyn-Krynicka K, Jupp S. Defective particle assembly in wild type P2 bacteriophage and its correction by the lg mutation. J Gen Virol 1978; 38:251-61. [PMID: 627873 DOI: 10.1099/0022-1317-38-2-251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The mutation lg of phage P2 has been located on the genetic map of P2 to the right of, and closely linked to, the del2 deletion, probably within tail gene F. The lg mutation causes larger burst sizes, compared with the wild type, especially at high incubation temperatures. The frequency of defective particles is lower in preparations of P2 lg than in those of wild type P2. It seems that the mutation lg improves the efficiency of particle assembly.
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Chatteroraj DK, Oberoi YK, Bertani G. Restriction of bacteriophage P2 by the Escherichia coli RI plasmid, and in vitro cleavage of its DNA by the EcoRI endonuclease. Virology 1977; 81:460-70. [PMID: 331662 DOI: 10.1016/0042-6822(77)90161-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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43
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Hyde JM, Bertani G. Structure and position of a complex chromosomal aberration in bacteriophage P2. J Gen Virol 1975; 28:415-9. [PMID: 1176970 DOI: 10.1099/0022-1317-28-3-415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The P2 phage mutation vir56, like the previously studied vir22, is the result of an unequal replacement of a chromosome segment with non-homologous DNA. The end positions of the replacements are essentially the same in the two mutants, whereas the lengths of the replacements are quite different. A third chromosomal aberration, del3, has similar structure and position. These results strengthen the suggestion that the left ends of these three aberrations coincide with the point of exchange in integrative recombination.
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Deriu GP, Bertani G, Thiene G, Settembrini PG, Battaglia G. [The Sparks autogenous arterial prosthesis. Experimental study and preliminary clinical results]. Minerva Cardioangiol 1975; 23:409-25. [PMID: 1143663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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Bertani G. Deletions in bacteriophage P2. Circularity of the genetic map and its orientation relative to the DNA denaturation map. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1975; 136:107-37. [PMID: 16094979 DOI: 10.1007/bf00272034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Several types of viable chromosomal deletions of bacteriophage P2 were isolated. One type gives the immunity insensitive phenotype and may extend to the genes for the immunity repressor (C) and for integrative recombination (int). Two other types delete genes (old and fun) known to be active in the lysogenic state. For such deletion mutants the relationship between particle density and DNA length was established. The deletions were located in respect to previously mapped genes and the results were compared with electron microscopical studies (by Inman and collaborators) of the P2 chromosome. It is concluded that the best representation of the genetic map of P2 is circular. The cohesive ends of the linear P2 DNA molecule are most likely formed between genes old and Q. Except for the neighborhood of gene old, the previously published, linear genetic map of P2 (Lindahl) is colinear with the melting map of the P2 chromosome (Inman). Preliminary evidence for some specific recombination event often accompanying integrative recombination between phage chromosomes is presented.
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Murray K, Murray NE, Bertani G. Base changes in the recognition site for ter functions in lambdoid phage DNA. Nature 1975; 254:262-5. [PMID: 1113894 DOI: 10.1038/254262a0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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Lundqvist B, Bertani G. Removal of unwanted proteins from cell extracts by means of antiserum. PREPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY 1975; 5:319-32. [PMID: 1103116 DOI: 10.1080/00327487508061580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The efficiency of removal of soluble proteins in cell-free bacterial extracts by means of antiserum from rabbits immunized with similar extracts was measured. Precipitation followed by Sephadex gel-chromatography was used. Up to 80% (exceptionally 90%) removal could be obtained. The method might be applied to enrichment for "foreign" cell-extract components, for example, viral products in virus infected cells. Tests for the specificity of the method are also presented.
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Deriu GP, Bertani G, Settembrini PG, Terranova O. [Cerebrovascular insufficiency due to evident compression of the internal carotid artery caused by common carotid aneurysm]. MINERVA CHIR 1974; 29:1269-75. [PMID: 4281472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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49
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Ursini F, Vincenti E, Manzi Ferri L, Gregolin C, Vassanelli P, Stella GD, Pelizzo MR, Bertani G, Rizzi B. [Effects of mesenterico-caval anastomosis on hepatic mitochondrial metabolism and functions in the rat]. ARCHIVIO PER LE SCIENZE MEDICHE 1974; 131:206-10. [PMID: 4458632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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Rock S, Moillo A, Lundqvist B, Ljungquist E, Inman RB, Bertani G, Afzelius B. Lambdoid phage phi D326: a natural isolate related to phi 80. J Gen Virol 1974; 22:425-9. [PMID: 4818279 DOI: 10.1099/0022-1317-22-3-425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
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