Lactis Aerogenes Research Articles

50. Physicochemieal aspects of bacterial growth. Part VIII. Growth of Bact. lactis aerogenes in media containing ammonium sulphate or various aminoacids

50. Physicochemieal aspects of bacterial growth. Part VIII. Growth of Bact. lactis aerogenes in media containing ammonium sulphate or various aminoacids

Some morphological and other variations in a strain of Bact. lactis aerogenes accompanying its adaptation to change of medium

Some morphological and other variations in a strain of Bact. lactis aerogenes accompanying its adaptation to change of medium

The adaptation of Bact. lactis aerogenes to growth in the presence of sulphonamides

The first page of this article is displayed as the abstract.

347. Physicochemical aspects of bacterial growth. Part V. Influence of magnesium on the lag phase in the growth of Bact. lactis aerogenes in synthetic media containing phosphate

The first page of this article is displayed as the abstract.

346. Physicochemical aspects of bacterial growth. Part IV. Conditions determining stationary populations and growth rates of Bact. lactis aerogenes in synthetic media

The first page of this article is displayed as the abstract.

364. Physicochemical aspects of bacterial growth. Part II. Quantitative dependence of the growth rate of Bact. lactis aerogenes on the carbon dioxide content of the gas atmosphere

364. Physicochemical aspects of bacterial growth. Part II. Quantitative dependence of the growth rate of Bact. lactis aerogenes on the carbon dioxide content of the gas atmosphere

365. Physicochemical aspects of bacterial growth. Part III. Influence of alcohols on the growth of Bact. lactis aerogenes

365. Physicochemical aspects of bacterial growth. Part III. Influence of alcohols on the growth of Bact. lactis aerogenes

363. Physicochemical aspects of bacterial growth. Part I. Dependence of growth of Bact. lactis aerogenes on concentration of medium

363. Physicochemical aspects of bacterial growth. Part I. Dependence of growth of Bact. lactis aerogenes on concentration of medium

The Distribution and Sanitary Significance ofB. coli, B. lactis aerogenesand Intermediate Types of Coliform Bacilli in Water, Soil, Faeces, and Ice-Cream

This section of the work deals with the routine bacteriological examination of 2144 samples of water, of which 1102 contained lactose-fermenting bacilli, 4333 strains being isolated. Twelve strains which liquefied gelatine and 24 which gave anomalous MR and VP reactions were excluded from the coliform group; the remaining 4297 cultures were classified on the basis of the MR, VP, indol, citrate and uric acid tests.

Selective Media for the Isolation, Cultivation and Differentiation ofBacillus coliandB. lactis aerogenes

1. An agar medium is described which enables a direct estimation of the numbers of coliform bacilli in a water or milk sample to be made.2. An enrichment medium forB. lactis aerogenesis one containing in every 100 c.c. of peptone water 0·5 g. sodium citrate, 0·25 g. soluble starch and 1 c.c. of a 1 per cent, watery solution of neutral red.3. Enrichment media forB. coliare: (a) lactose peptone water containing in every 100 c.c., 1 g. sodium sulphite anhydrous and 2 c.c. of 1 per cent, rosolic acid in absolute alcohol; (b) lactose peptone water containing in every 100 c.c., 2 c.c. of a 40 per cent, solution of hexamine in water.4. Importance is attached to the capacity to ferment starch possessed byB. lactis aerogenes.5. The application of these media to the examination of water and milk is indicated.

ON THE RÔLE OF CARBOHYDRATE HAPTENS IN BACTERIAL ANAPHYLAXIS

1. In passively sensitized animals bacterial anaphylaxis has been produced, in vivo and in vitro, with haptens from B. lactis aerogenes, the pneumobacillus, and a yeast. 2. The smallest amount of hapten causing fatal anaphylaxis is less than the minimal amount of protein which will cause death in properly sensitized animals. 3. The haptens used were largely carbohydrates, and gave none of the protein reactions, but since they did contain a small amount of nitrogen we cannot yet assert positively that carbohydrate alone will produce shock. 4. Since haptens will not sensitize animals we must conclude that the anaphylactogenic and shock-producing parts of the antigen are not identical. 5. These experiments provide further evidence of the close relationship of precipitins to anaphylaxis.

Observations on Irregularities in Human Isohemagglutinins

Summary Four patients, acutely sick, are reported whose blood sera contained abnormal agglutinating substances for all four groups of human red corpuscles. One patient's blood contained autoisoagglutinins, while the other three did not. Three of the patients had bacteremias due to encapsulated organisms. The disturbance of the isoagglutinins was not constant, but in one case ran practically parallel with the temperature curve. Experimental evidence is offered to show that the disturbance of the isoagglutinins was probably not due to a change in pH of the blood nor to the hyperpyrexia per se. Other evidence is presented showing that there are members of the encapsulated, gram-negative group of bacteria, namely, certain strains of B. acidi lactici and B. lactis aerogenes, together with their products, which are capable of causing agglutination of human red corpuscles. Emphasis is here laid upon the importance of invariably crosstesting serum and corpuscles of donor and recipient, before transfusion, even though they are members of the same isoagglutinin group.

On Carbohydrate-Like Specific Substance in the Colon Aerogenes Group.

Specifically reacting polysaccharides have been isolated by various authors from pneumococci, pneumobacilli, tubercle bacilli and yeasts. Preliminary unpublished experiments convinced us that substances with varying chemical composition and carbohydrate content could be obtained easily and in large quantities from different encapsulated bacilli (B. coli, B. anthracis and encapsulated soil bacteria). B. lactis aerogenes was chosen in the present study, since in the early literature Emmerling1 and Schardinger2 succeeded in isolating a nitrogen free polysaccharide from the filtrated cultures of these organisms.The strain chiefly used for the preparation of the polysaccharide was isolated from human feces. Its behavior in sugar media was typical, acid was produced on citrate agar, the indol reaction was negative and the Voges-Proskauer test positive. Capsule formation was distinct though not marked.Following the method of Emmerling and Schardinger an attempt was made to isolate a carbohydrate from the filtrat...

Note on the Variation in the End-Products of Bacterial Fermentation Resulting from Increased Combined Oxygen in the Substrate

THE work of Harden [1901] and of Grey [1919, 1, 2] and others has shown that the end products of the bacterial degradation of glucose and of mannitol are qualitatively the same, but differ considerably in the relative quantity of the substances formed. Thus, under similar conditions of fermentation, B. coli communis produces twice as much alcohol from mannitol as it does from glucose, but much smaller amounts of lactic acid from the former than from the latter. With a view to obtaining further information as to the effect of the composition of the substrate on the products of bacterial fermentation it was thought that it would be interesting to investigate the more oxygenated derivatives of glucose. Some information with regard to the intermediate region between complete anaerobiosis and aerobiosis might also be obtained by thus presenting to the organism progressively more oxygen already bound in the substrate molecule. The result which was anticipated has been demonstrated, namely that increasingly oxygenated end-products are obtained from the anaerobic fermentation of increasingly oxygenated substrates, and some indirect support has been given to the view that certain portions of the substrate molecule provide the molecular framework of particular end-products. These results, however, cannot be accepted as conclusive until the experiments described in this note, the greater number of which have been conducted in peptone solutions, have been repeated with synthetic media of known composition, an opportunity for which has not yet arisen. The action of B. coli communis (Escherich, No. 86 National Type Collection) under anaerobic conditions on a series of progressively more oxidised compounds related to glucose has been investigated qualitatively and quantitatively. A few similar experiments have also been carried out with B. lactis aerogenes. Below are the formulae of the substrates used arranged in order of their oxygen content, the most oxygenated compound being on the right. Mannitol Glucose Gluconic acid Glycuronic acid Saccharic acid CH2OH CHO COOH CHO COOH

SOME EFFECTS OF THE LOWER ALCOHOLS ON PARAMECIUM

1. A mixture of B. lactis aerogenes and B. aquatiis (sp. ?) constitutes the best food found for Paramecium. 2. When paramecia are exposed to an alcohol in sufficient strength they are at first incoördinated in movement and then inactivated. Later toxic effects are manifested by marked internal changes, formation of "blisters" by elevation of cuticle, rupture of ectoplasm, and death. 3. The anterior end of Paramecium is more susceptible to alcohol than the posterior end, and the aboral side more than the oral. 4. Indirect daylight has no perceptible effect on normal or alcoholized paramecia, but direct sunlight inactivates them; this effect is augmented in the presence of alcohol. 5. Change in temperature over a wide range has no appreciable effect on the susceptibility of paramecia to alcohol. 6. Aëration and agitation of a Paramecium culture renders the paramecia much less susceptible to alcohol. 7. Paramecia in a given solution without food live longer with alcohol than without; starving cultures can even be restored to prosperity by the addition of suitable amounts of any alcohol. 8. Exposure of paramecia to weak ethyl alcohol increases their susceptibility to a stronger dose of ethyl alcohol, and to five other alcohols.

THE BACTERIOLOGY OF THE NORMAL INFANT'S URINE

It has been rather generally accepted that the urine of normal infants often contains a small number of organisms that cannot definitely be excluded as contaminations. The work of Ross,¹Beeler and Helmholz,²Kleinschmidt,³and others substantiates this view. Recently the entire question was reopened by Langer and Soldin⁴who claim that all former work in which liquid mediums had not been used for the isolation of bacteria is open to criticism. In a series of 138 cases they isolated<i>Streptococcus lacticus</i>128 times,<i>Bacillus coli</i>sixteen times, and<i>Bacillus lactis aerogenes</i>four times;<i>Bacillus coli</i>was associated with<i>Streptococcus lacticus</i>six times. Occasionally, a single examination revealed sterile urine, but on repetition bacteria were found. At that no account is taken of anaerobic bacteria. Langer and Soldin speak only of washing the urethra thoroughly with a 10 per cent, boric acid solution. The solvent for

STUDIES IN BOVINE MASTITIS

Aside from the streptococci, micrococci have been the next most frequent group of organisms isolated from inflamed udders. They produce various types of disease. Some give rise to only a mild catarrh of the larger milk ducts and cystern, while others produce more or less severe parenchymatous inflammation. On the whole, the prognosis is more favorable with micrococcic infection than with that associated with streptococci. Cases of considerable severity have, however, been attributed to staphylococci. Micrococci similar in many respects to those associated with mastitis have been found to occur in the normal udder. This has led Savage to question their true etiological significance. In many instances micrococci may gain access to the udder and produce slight disturbances that are entirely overlooked. Even more severe changes may follow infection. After recovery the organisms still remain in the milk. This was observed in the case of Cow 60 infected with staphylococci. One frequently observes the elimination of streptococci from the udder even after apparent recovery from an attack of streptococcic mastitis. Doubtless streptococci and micrococci observed in these udders would be classed as belonging to the normal flora. Even though micrococci do occur in supposedly normal udders Evans has shown that many are pathogenic for rabbits. The introduction of these organisms into the udders of non-resistant individuals might well give rise to more or less intense inflammation. The multiplication would doubtless be rapid until resistance had been established. In addition to the micrococci two other groups of rod-shaped organisms have been found associated with udder inflammation. In two instances Bacillus coli has been isolated from cases of mastitis and in another Bacillus lactis aerogenes. In four, tiny motile Gramstaining microorganisms have been obtained in pure culture. Two of these strains (Nos. C.79 and M.44) have been identified as Bacillus pyogenes.

SOME OBSERVATIONS ON INTESTINAL BACTERIA IN CHILDREN

During the past few years there has been a great revival of interest in the bacteriology of the digestive tract. The investigations of Moro, 1 Tissier 2 and others, especially Herter and Kendall 3 in this country, have explained the discrepancy noted since the days of Escherich, that the number of bacteria in the dejecta is much greater than the number of colonies which develop on our plates. They have demonstrated that the gram-positive organisms found in smears of the intestinal contents are equally important with the gram-negative, that they can be freed from the ordinary intestinal bacteria by cultivation in acid broth, and that they are just as much obligate inhabitants of the alimentary canal as are Bacillus coli communis and Bacterium lactis aerogenes . The old theory that Bacillus coli is gram-positive in the intestines and gram-negative in our cultures was thus proved to be untenable, as was usually

A Biometrical Study of the Mucosus Capsulatus Group

So much work has been done in this group and the literature so thoroughly reviewed that only the more complete of the earlier publications need be mentioned. Fricke,' in 1896, gave the general characters of the group as follows: short, non-spore bearing, encapsulated bacilli, non-motile and gram-negative, showing a slimy growth on different media, not liquefying gelatin, sometimes forming indol, and fermenting certain of the carbohydrates. Clairmont,2 in 1902, continued the study of the members of this group and in his work included reference to the reaction of agglutination, which however he found unsatisfactory as a means of differentiation. Perkins,3 in 1904, proposed a simple classification based on the fermentation characteristics of these micro-organisms. The first species was designated as the bacterium aarogenes (including all strains of the bacilli lactis aerogenes, capsulatus septicus, Pfeiffer and Howard, and a large series isolated by Perkins. This group fermented the monosaccharids dextrose and levulose; the disaccharids saccharose, lactose and maltose, the pentose arabinose, the triatomic alcohol glycerin, and the hexatomic alcohol mannite. The second species, the bacterium pneumonicum, included all the Friedliinder group, the bacillus ozenae, probably the bacillus rhinoscleromatis, and fermented all carbohydrates except lactose. The third species had as its prototype the bacillus acidi lactici, and members of this species fermented all the carbohydrates enumerated, with the exception of saccharose. There has been no recent attempt made to classify this group on the basis of cultural features or biochemical activities alone. Behan,4 however, has quite recently endeavored to differentiate these various species by means of the reaction of agglutination, with apparently some success.

The Inhibitory Selective Action on Bacteria of Bodies related to Monochloracetic Acid (A Contribution to the Theory of Cell Intoxication.)

1. B. coli (Escherich) produces papillated colonies and shows marked variability in the size of its colonies whenit is grown on agar to which phenylacetic acid has been added in the form of the sodium salt.The big and little colonies produce about the same amount of gas when tested on glucose.2. When B. coli (Escherich) is grown on agar containing monochlorhydrin it throws off variants similar to those produced when grown on monochloracetate of soda media. Speaking broadly they ferment alcohols with gas formation, and sugars without gas formation.3. B. lactis aerogenes grown on monochlorhydrin agar gives rise to variants unable to ferment glycerine.4. In cases of inhibitory bacterial selection by chemical agents a careful comparison of the surviving cells with the orginal strain from which they were derived is calculated to indicate that portion or function of the cell which is implicated in the cell's intoxication. This question does not seem to have been attacked hitherto from this standpoint.5. The cell ferments by virtue of their specific chemical affinities mayplay a part in cell intoxication.