Question

Phage lambda is unable to grow lytically on wild-type Salmonella typhimurium. Suggest a possible reason for these results.

Answer 1

The phage lambda is unable to grow lytically on wild-type Salmonella typhimurium because the phage lambda may not have sufficient mechanisms to adsorb on to the Salmonella typhimurium. Adsorption is the process of attachment of one thing on the surface of another thing. Even if it have adsorbed to the Salmonella typhimurium , the lambda may not be able to  perform lysis, that is breaking down of cells  on it because the Salmonella typhimurium may be missing something (some host function ) that allows the lysis by phage lambda.