Use of phage F-phi WJ-1 of Mycobacterium fortuitum to discern more phage types of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

A total of 125 strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from the Southeastern area of the United States was subjected to phage typing. In addition to the five major mycobacteriophages, a new phage, F-phi WJ-1, was used in the study. The results obtained with the five major phages were: type A0, 35.2%; TYPE B, 29.6%, and type C, 4.0%. The remaining 21.2% of the strains phaged typed as subgroups A1 through A6. These percentages were similar to the typing results of earlier studies. The new phage, F-phi WJ-1, subdivided each of the phage types, with the exception of type C, into two subgroups. The possible role of host modification-restriction of the phages used in phage typing of strains of M. tuberculosis is discussed.