Abstract
A new bacteriophage containing double-stranded DNA, Al-K-1 was isolated and characterized. The phage grows optimally at pH 10.5, is stable within the range pH 9 to 11 and quite unstable at neutral or acidic pH. The isolated DNA of phage Al-K-1 was damaged by alkaline treatment (pH 11), indicating that it was protected from the alkaline condition by the phage capsid.