Properties of bacteriophage T4 modified with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide

Treating of the bacteriophage T4B with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide results in extension of long fibers and contraction of tail sheaths. The unreorganized hexagonal baseplate attachment to the distal end of the tail core remains intact. Such aberrantly contracted phages are shown to retain the ability to absorb on the bacterial surface. The absorption is inhibited by sucrose and does not require the presence of 1-tryptophan. The aberrantly contracted phages lose the infection ability.