Coexistence of lambda sensitive and resistant cells???

[Arul Jayaraman]

Hi 
I am working on temperature induction of lambda (infection) in E.coli. My 
preliminary results show that 99.9% of the host cells lose their 
viability after 3-4 hours of induction.  Since the spontaneous frequency 
of mutation is approximately 10^-8 and lambda sensitive cells do not grow 
during infection, we suspect that lambda resistant mutants dominate the 
culture after the induction.  We do not know what fraction of the 
population becomes resistant to infection. What type of criterion is 
required for the co-existence of lambda resistant and sensitive cells?
The sensitive cells are less healthy than the resistant cells and in a 
continuous culture, at a given dilution rate, most of the sensitive cells 
get washed out of the fermentor. We need to opearte at a particular flow 
rate so that both states can coexist. I would greatly appreciate it if 
anybody can provide me with a reference or advice on this issue. Please 
post on the net or send mail to arul at design.eng.uci.edu
Thanks
Arul
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ARUL JAYARAMAN
DEPT. OF CHEMICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT IRVINE
IRVINE, CA 92715
Email: arul at design.eng.uci.edu