National Collection Of Type Cultures Research Articles

Identification and characterization of Moraxella phenylpyruvica.

Eight strains of Moraxella phenylpyruvica have been isolated from clinical material in the United Kingdom, the first to be reported from this country. They were characterized, together with three strains of M. phenylpyruvica of the National Collection of Type Cultures (NCTC), and compared with NCTC strains of eight other Moraxella species. The strains of M. phenylpyruvica formed a homogeneous group which is readily distinguishable from other Moraxella species. Deamination of phenylalanine is not restricted to M. phenylpyruvica which, however, is urease positive and is stimulated by bile, in contrast to other Moraxella spp.

Isolation of a new Moraxella from a corneal abscess.

Summary A Gram-negative bacillus, provisionally identified as a moraxella, was isolated from an eye infection. The properties of this organism are given and compared with those of similar catalase-negative, oxidase-positive Gram-negative bacilli. A subculture of this organism has been lodged with the National Collection of Type Cultures, Colindale, London.

Bacteriocine typing of Klebsiella spp.

One hundred and six strains of Klebsiella spp were examined for their ability to produce bacteriocine. Nine of these, together with one strain from the National Collection of Type Cultures, were selected and used to type Klebsiella strains from various sources. Strains were typed by testing their sensitivity to bacteriocines produced by the standard set of 10 strains. Eight hundred strains were tested and 77% of these were typable and could be divided into a relatively large number of groups, some of which occurred consistently more frequently than others.This simple method has been shown to have some value in epidemiological investigations.

Incidence of mycoplasma infection in guinea-pigs.

THE isolation of a new mycoplasma species, Mycoplasma caviae, was recorded recently1. This species has been isolated from the nasopharynx and vagina of 10% of 232 guinea-pigs and is apparently non-pathogenic to these and other common laboratory animals. During this survey, no other known species of mycoplasma were isolated. (A strain of M. caviae G. 122 has been lodged in the National Collection of Type Cultures and has been given the reference number NC/TC 10126.)

A haemolytic V-dependent CO2-preferring Haemophilus species (Haemophilus paraphrohaemolyticus nov. spec.).

Summary The repeated isolation of a haemolytic species of Haemophilus requiring V factor and preferring increased CO2 tension for growth is described. Other characters helpful in establishing the identity of such strains are given and the name Haemophilus paraphrohaemolyticus is proposed. We acknowledge the competent assistance of Miss W. B. Walsh in the photographic part of this work. The three strains on which this report is based have been deposited with the National Collection of Type Cultures, Central Public Health Laboratory, London; they have been allotted the following numbers: strain Corinthian, NCTC no. 10672; strain Lawton 1, NCTC no. 10670; strain Lawton 2, NCTC no. 10671.

Identification and characterisation of Bacteroides corrodens.

Summary Eight recently isolated strains of Bacteroides corrodens, seven of which originated in Britain, were compared with two strains of this species from the National Collection of Type Cultures. The principal characteristics of B. corrodens were: Gram-negative, nonmotile ovals and rods; usually grows as depressed or pitting colonies on agar media, but also produces non-pitting variants; prefers CO2 -enriched atmospheres or anaerobic conditions on primary isolation, but becomes a facultative anaerobe on subculture in the laboratory; catalase-negative; oxidase-positive; nitrate reduced to nitrite; arginine dihydrolase not produced, lysine and ornithine decarboxylase produced; acid not produced from carbohydrates; otherwise biochemically inert. The DNA-base composition was determined by the melting-temperature method and was found to range from 56·2 to 58·2 per cent. GC.

A capsulate Staphylococcus aureus.

Summary A capsulate staphylococcus designated strain M is described. Apart from the presence of a capsule, this strain has most of the biological properties of typical strains of Staphylococcus aureus. Strain M differs from modal strains of S. aureus in its colonial morphology, resistance to bacteriophage, greater virulence for mice and failure to clump in plasma. These differences are attributed to the presence of a thick capsule. Non-capsulate variants, produced by prolonged culture in nutrient broth, were indistinguishable from typical strains of S. aureus, but reverted to the parent capsulate form when passaged in mice. Strain M is compared with three heavily capsulate strains previously described, and with staphylococcus strain “Smith”, and the “Smith-like” strains of S. aureus. The capsulate strain M has been deposited in the National Collection of Type Cultures (no. 10649).

Serological and bacteriological investigation of Mycobacterium ranae (fortuitum).

Twenty strains of a species of fast growing Mycobacterium, some named M. fortuitum and others said to be similar to the strain of M. peregrinum, in the possession of the National Collection of Type Cultures, were examined serologically and bacteriologically. They were all found to be of the same species, but they were divisible into four serotypes (I to IV), on a basis of three variable antigens, which do not exactly correspond to the subspecies described in previous reports. The strains varied in the number of years that they had been kept in culture and were of widely divergent origin. With the exception of serotype II strains, which all came from sputa from Welsh miners, the serotypes were independent of years in culture or site of origin. Based on bacteriological and serological identity and chronological priority, we consider that M. ranae (Kuster) Bergey et al. should be reinstated in place of M. fortuitum Cruz. A modified scheme for identification of the species is proposed, which would not exclude any of the four serotypes.

Designation of the type strain of Bacteroides corrodens Eiken 1958

The strain 333/54-55, a facultatively anaerobic strain from the collection studied by Eiken, is designated as the type strain of Bacteroides corrodens. The strain has been deposited in the National Collection of Type Cultures and in the American Type Culture Collection.

Pseudomonas stutzeri in pathological material.

Summary Six strains of Ps. stutzeri, recently isolated from pathological material obtained from human sources in this country, as well as two strains from the National Collection of Type Cultures, were compared with five strains of Ps. pseudomallei. The two species could readily be differentiated by means of the aerobic nitrate reduction test: Ps. stutzeri reduces nitrate rapidly and completely with the production of gas, whereas Ps. pseudomalZei reduces nitrate only to nitrite. Ps. stutzeri has a single polar flagellum, Ps. pseudomallei has several polar flagella. Ps. pseudomallei has heat-stable alkaline phosphatases and gives positive results in the tests for gelatin liquefaction, arginine desimidase, intracellular accumulation of poly-β-hydroxybutyrate, casein hydrolysis, KCN tolerance and opalescence on LV agar. Ps. stutzeri strains were negative in all these respects. At present it is not possible to say for certain whether Ps. stutzeri found in pathological material represents a secondary invader in a debilitated host or should be regarded as a contaminant.

Annotations from the NCTC on the list of type and reference strains of bacteria, Sneath and Skerman 1966

ABSTRACT This annotation contains a series of amendments and additions to the National Collection of Type Culture data on strains held in the National Collection of Type Cultures which are given in “A list of type and reference strains of bacteria,” (Sneath and Skerman 1966). Amendments or additions to the data of other Culture Collections are not included. It is suggested that copies of the list should be emended to avoid errors until a revised list is published.

The Fine Structure of Diphtheroids of Erythrasma

The causative organism of erythrasma has long been considered to be a fungus, variously named Microsporum minutissimum, Nocardia minutis-sima, Sporotrichum minutissimum, Microspo-roides minutissimus, Oospora minutissima, and Discomyces minutissimus. Renewed interest in the etiology of this long-recognized (1) chronic infection of the stratum corneum has been stimulated by the clinical finding that erythrasma, unlike dermatophyte infections, fails to respond to treatment with the antifungal agent, griseo-fulvin, but may be cured by erythromycin administered systemically (Fig. 1 and 2). That the disease might be of bacterial origin was first suggested by Lagana (2) who isolated a Corynebac-terium and a hemolytic Staphylococcus from scrapings of the skin of patients with erythrasma. More recently, Sarkany, Taplin and Blank (3, 4) reported culturing, from scales of afflicted patients, a diphtheroid which, when inoculated onto the skin of human volunteers, gave rise to clinical erythrasma. The organism has been described biochemically and has been named Corynebacterium minutissimum (5), the type strain of which has been accepted by the National Collection of Type Cultures, London, England.

A comparison of the proposed neotype strain and 258 isolates of Vibrio cholerae pacini

SUMMARY The proposed neotype strain of Vibrio cholerae Pacini, National Collection of Type Cultures (NCTC) 8021, is compared with 258 isolates of nonhaemolytic V. cholerae to explore the parameters of the species. The distribution of 51 characteristics among these strains is expressed quantitatively. A few V. cholerae strains which (A) ferment arabinose, (B) fail to ferment sucrose, and (C) do not produce indole were found to possess Gardner and Venkatraman heat-stable O Group I antigen.

The proposed neotype strain of Pseudomonas alcaligenes Monias 1928: Request for an Opinion

SUMMARY The morphological and physiological characteristics of the proposed neotype strain of Pseudomonas alcaligenes Monias 1928 (American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) 14909, National Collection of Type Cultures (NCTC) 10367 (RH 1577) are presented. A photomicrograph of a stained preparation and electron micrographs illustrate the polar flagellum of the monotrichous cells. The authors request an Opinion on this proposal by the Judicial Commission of the International Committee on Bacteriological Nomenclature.

The Proposed Conservation of the Generic Name Vibrio Pacini 1854 and Designation of the Neotype Strain of Vibrio Cholerae Pacini 1854

SUMMARY Vibrio Müller has not been used in the Literature of protozoology for over 100 years. Article 23 of the International Zoological Code of Nomenclature says “a name that has remained unused as a senior synonym in the primary zoological literature for more than 50 years is to be considered a forgotten name (nomen oblitum).” For a Little more than 100 years Vibrio has become established as a commonly accepted generic name in bacteriology. It is recommended from the standpoint of bacteriology that Vibrio Müller 1773 be regarded as the name of a genus in zoology and in conformity with the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature be recognized as a nomen oblitum and without standing in bacteriological nomenclature. It is further recommended that Vibrio Pacini 1854 be placed in the list of conserved generic names (nomina generum conservanda) with the type species Vibrio cholerae Pacini 1854 and that the specific epithet cholerae in the binary combination Vibrio cholerae Pacini 1854 also be conserved. It is also proposed that the National Collection of Type Cultures (NCTC) strain 8021 (American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) strain 14035) be recognized as the neotype strain of Vibrio cholerae Pacini 1 854. The morphological and physiological characteristics, including a photomicrograph of a stained preparation showing monotrichous cells each with a polar flagellum, are presented of the proposed neotype strain.

TYPE CULTURES AND PROPOSED NEOTYPE CULTURES OF SOME SPECIES IN THE GENUS BACILLUS.

SUMMARY: Type cultures or proposed neotype cultures of 20 species in the genus Bacillus are listed, together with their histories and their accession numbers in the American Type Culture Collection, the National Collection of Industrial Bacteria and the National Collection of Type Cultures.

OPINION 27 Designation of the neotype strain of Streptococcus agalactiae Lehmann and Neumann

SUMMARY A neotype strain of Streptococcus agalactiae Lehmann and Neumann is designated and deposited in the American Type Culture Collection as ATCC No. 13813 and in the National Collection of Type Cultures as NCTC No. 8181.

Fimbriae and haemagglutinating properties in strains of Proteus.

FIMBRIATION and the haemagglutinating pattern of 21 strains of Proteus mirabilis, 10 of P. vulgaris and 20 strains each of P. morgani and P. rettgeri have been investigated. The strains of P. hauseri were those previously used1 and were either in the Y, W or R phases2. The morgani strains comprised 12 recently isolated local strains and 8 (Nos. 232, 235, 1707, 2815, 2818, 5845, 7381 and 10041) obtained from the National Collection of Type Cultures, Colindale, London. The P. rettgeri consisted of N.C.T.C. strains Nos. 7475, 7476, 7477, 7478, 7479, 7480, 7481 and 8893 and 12 local strains. Methods used were those of Duguid and Gillies3. Broth cultures were started from stock agar slopes and incubated at 37° C and at room temperature. Erythrocytes of fowl, sheep, horse, guinea pig, rabbit, man and ox were used and the haemagglutination pattern of 20 serial 48 h broth cultures of each strain was determined.

A classification of the Klebsiella group.

SUMMARY: Klebsiella strains are divided into six categories on the following reactions: fimbriation, production of gas from glucose at 37°, acid from lactose and dulcitol, methyl red test, acetoin production, citrate, urease, gluconate, malonate, lysine decarboxylase, growth in the presence of KCN and ability to produce gas from lactose at 44°. Five of the six categories are assigned specific rank, the sixth subspecific rank. The tests enable Friedländer’s pneumobacillus to be distinguished from Aerobacter aerogenes. A new species, Klebsiella edwardsii, and a new subspecies, K. edwardsii var. atlantae, are named. Neotype strains of old species are proposed, holotypes of the new species and variety designated, and the catalogue numbers in the National Collection of Type Cultures and American Type Culture Collection given.

Some observations on the serological typing of Staphylococcus pyogenes.

In the past 20 years the serological typing of Staphylococcus pyogenes has advanced from precipitinogen analysis (Julianelle and Wieghard, 1935; Cowan, 1938) to slide agglutination (Cowan, 1939). A year later six further types were added to Cowan's types I, 11, and II by Christie and Keogh (1940), and more recently Hobbs (1948) brought the total to 13. These 13 types are now referred to as the international types. The most recent classification is based on an analysis of the heat-labile, heat-stable, and blocked antigens (Oeding, 1952, 1953, 1954). Here the antigens are designated alphabetically a to k. In the practical application of this classification d and g are not employed, d being common to all strains examined and g too weak an antigen to be easily identified. Strains are grouped according to their antigenic formulae in the live state and subtyped on the basis of the antigens revealed or persisting after autoclaving at 1200 C. for two and a half hours. Whereas Oeding used strains isolated mainly from cases of human mastitis, this study employed the international types both for preparation of antisera and for absorption procedures. It was expected that, by following the procedures indicated by Oeding and accepting as the base line his formulae for the international types, factor sera like his would be obtained. Certain modifications of procedures were adopted, and, although they appeared to be slight and unlikely to influence the end-result, the resultant sera did not show the expected close correlation. Nevertheless, when applied to field strains, astonishingly consistent results were obtained (Brodie, Jamieson, and Sonumerville, 1955; Brodie, Kerr, and Sommerville, 1956; Brodie, Sommerville, and Wilson, 1956). The details of the procedures used are set forth below. Methods Strains Used.-The 13 international types were obtained from the National Collection of Type Cultures. These were examined on receipt and, before being used to prepare antisera, each had to be (a) haemolytic on horse blood agar, (b) an active fermenter of mannitol, (c) positive for coagulase by tube test (Mackie and McCartney, 1953), and (d) able to grow readily on heart extract agar containing 8 % NaCl. Some of the types did not at first satisfy all four requirements, being especially reluctant to grow well on the 8 % NaCl medium. The ability to grow readily on the 8 % NaCl medium is shown by pathogenic staphylococci in purulent exudates and it was felt that the international types should also show this characteristic before being accepted as ready for use as antigens. Antisera were made with all the international types.