Observations on the influence of deuterium on bacterial growth.

Abstract

ABS>The influence of different concentrations of deuterium in liquid media on the growth of various microbial species was studied. The concentrations of deuterium studied ranged from 0 to 95 atom per cent. Cultures of M. tuberculosis showed inhibition of growth only when the deuterium concentration surpassed 80 atom per cent. Deuterium concentrations between 25 and 80 atom per cent appeared to stimulate growth slightly but this effect was not apparent until after 21 days incubation. Cultures of unclassified rapid-grower strain of acid- fast bacilli showed only progressive inhibition of growth with increasing concentrations of D/sub 2/0. On adequate media, cultures of Group C hemolytic streptococci demonstrated an inverse relationship between growth and deuterium concentration. On adverse media, the initial decline in bacterial population was inhibited progressively by increasing concentrations of deuterium, but after growth became established deuterium toxicity again became evident. Cultures of Type I pneumococci under poor conditions of growth showed evidence of a protective action of the higher concentrations of deuterium against the initial decline in bacterial population. Once growth became established it reached higher levels and persisted longer as the deuterium concentration was increased. The growth of E. coli was found to be progressively inhibited by increasingmore » deuterium concentrations. Cultures of Candida albicans showed little sensitivity to increasing concentrations of deuterium. (auth)« less