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A phage-neutralizing rabbit antiserum collected after immunization with tail-fiberless bacteriophage T4 particles was adsorbed with complete T4 phage. The resulting adsorbed serum inhibited tail fiber attachment in vitro. To identify the antigens against which this inhibitory activity was directed, blocking experiments were carried out with the adsorbed serum. Isolated complete baseplates and mutant-infected-cell extracts lacking known baseplate gene products but containing gene 9 product showed similar high levels of blocking activity. By contrast, both tail-fiberless particles lacking gene 9 product and infected-cell extracts made with gene 9 mutants showed 30-fold to 100-fold lower blocking activity. These results strongly support the conclusion that gene 9 product is the baseplate protein to which tail fibers attach.

The twin-twin transfusion syndrome, associated with acute polyhydramnios in the 18th to 28th week of gestation, has a high perinatal mortality rate. Patients managed without intervention have essentially a 100% mortality rate for the involved twins. Different methods of intervention have been described, including therapeutic amniocentesis, selective feticide, and placental vessel puncture. In this case report we describe selective removal of one twin at 21 weeks of gestation by hysterotomy in a patient with the twin-twin transfusion syndrome.The twin-twin transfusion syndrome, associated with acute polyhydramnios in weeks 18-28 of gestations has a high perinatal mortality rate. Patients managed without intervention have essentially a 100% mortality rate for the involved twins. Different methods of intervention have been described, including therapeutic amniocentesis, selective feticide, and placental vessel puncture. In this case report, the authors describe the selective removal of 1 twin at 21 weeks of gestation by hysterotomy in a patient with twin-twin transfusion syndrome.