Abstract
Chlorine was used for inactivation of bacteriophage f2 at pH 5.5, 7.5, and 10.0 at $10^{\circ}C$. The inactivation rate phage with chlorine varied depending on the pH value and reaction time. Hypochlorous acid appeared to be the major species of free chlorine for the inactivation. Suevival of the phage treated with chlorine and infectivity of the RNA extracted from the chlorinated phage were examined. The RNA extracted from untreatd phage was chlorinated and its infectivity was assayed. All three samples showed similar rates of inactivation at pH 5.5 and 7.5, but the naked RNA was more susceptible to chlorine at pH 10.0. The rate of inactivation was compared naked RNA was more susceptible to chlorine at pH 10.0. The rate of inactivation was compared with specific and non-specific attachment of the phasge f2. The specific attachment of the phage increased after the phage had been inactivated by extended chlorination. Chlorine may penetrate to the becteriophage f2 by altering the structural integrity of the protein coat, but the main target of free chlorine for inactivation of the phage appeared to be the phage RNA.