Xenorhabdus Species Research Articles

Electrophoresis of Soluble Proteins from Two Species of Xenorhabdus, Bacteria Mutualistically Associated with the Nematodes Steinernema spp. and Heterorhabditis spp.

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Electrophoresis of Soluble Proteins from Two Species of Xenorhabdus, Bacteria Mutualistically Associated with the Nematodes Steinernema spp. and Heterohabditis spp.

Mutualistically associated bacteria were isolated from two genera of nematodes: Xenorhabdus nematophilus from four species of Steinernema (= Neoaplectana) and X. luminescens from two species of Heterorhabditis. Mutualistic bacteria were also isolated from two unidentified species of heterorhabditid nematodes and were partially characterized by selected standard bacteriological tests. The soluble proteins obtained from the primary and secondary forms of these bacteria were subjected to electrophoretic examination on acrylamide gels. Total protein profiles and certain isoenzyme electrophoregrams were compared. The results revealed distinct subspecific differences in profiles of X. nematophilus and suggested new subspecific groupings in X. luminescens.

Production of Enterobacterial Common Antigen as an Aid to Classification of Newly Identified Species of the Families Enterobacteriaceae and Vibrionaceae

A study on the production of enterobacterial common antigen by recently described or as-yet-undescribed species belonging to the families Enterobacteriaceae and Vibrionaceae was carried out by hemagglutination and hemagglutination inhibition tests with rabbit antisera specific for this antigen. All 28 strains known or presumed to belong to Enterobacteriaceae produced this antigen, and none of the seven strains belonging to Vibrionaceae did so. The results obtained with Tatumella ptyseos and Xenorhabdus species are particularly noteworthy, since they represent species which are atypical for Enterobacteriaceae. It is suggested that the determination of the production of enterobacterial common antigen is a significant aid to classification, particularly when the assignation of a new genus or species to Enterobacteriaceae or to another family presents a problem.