Patent ID: 6649398
Filing Date: 2003-11-18
Classification: C12N,C12P,C12R,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for inducing bacterial growth, the production of bacterial toxins or the production of bacterial adhesions, comprising the steps of:i) contacting a sample containing bacteria with a bacterial autoinducer having the following properties: a) it is produced in response to noradrenaline in serum SAPI medium; b) it is heat stable; c) it is stable to lyophilisation; d) it has a negative charge; e) it is polar; f) it is hydrophilic; g) it will not partition into organic solvents; h) it is capable of binding positively charged metal ions; and j) it has a molecular weight of about 300-1500 daltons; and ii) culturing said bacteria, thereby inducing bacterial growth or producing bacterial toxins or bacterial adhesions.