Factors affecting the rumen bacteriophage population

Abstract

The bacteriophage population present in the rumen is diverse in composition and highly dynamic (Ritchie et al. 1970; Klieve and Bauchop 1988). The numbers and fluctuations in the population may play an important role in the turnover of microbial cells and supply of microbial products to the animal. Although the rumen bacteriophage population has been shown to contain a small proportion of classic lytic phages (these infect, then lyse cells), temperate phages are widespread among rumen bacteria (Klieve et al. 1989). Temperate phages infect bacteria and either lyse the cells or integrate their DNA into the bacterial chromosome and then exist from one generation to another as an integral part of the bacteria. Temperate phage are, however, capable of reverting to lytic development (termed induction) and thus are capable of causing large-scale lysis of bacterial populations.