METHODS OF GENERATING HOST RANGE MUTANT VIRUSES AND VIRUS-RESISTANT MICROORGANISMS

摘要

A lytic viras specific for a target strain of a microorganism and substantially free of undesirable genes maybe utilized in processes including control of populations of microorganisms. The virus may include a host-range mutant, or "h-mutant." A 1 method for generating virus includes growing virus-resistant variants of a target strain of a microorganism in the presence of viruses that are specific for the target strain. Only h-mutant viruses will proliferate. Wild-type virus-resistant and virus-resistant variants of a microorganism are also disclosed, as are methods generating such variants. Methods for controlling target strain microorganisms include introducing virus into a treatment site where control of a population of a target strain microorganism is desired or introducing virus-resistant variants of a microorganism into treatment sites where the presence of the microorganism is desired.