bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ACTION OF FORMALDEHYDE ON MICROORGANISMS II
Authors: Neely W. Brock
Published: January 2020

Neely, W. Brock
(The Dow Chemical Co., Midland, Mich.). Action of formaldehyde on microorganisms. II. Formation of 1,3-thiazane-4-carboxylic acid in
Aerobacter aerogenes
treated with formaldehyde. J. Bacteriol.
85:
1420–1422. 1963.—A culture of
Aerobacter aerogenes
was found to incorporate C
14
-labeled formaldehyde into 1,3-thiazane-4-carboxylic acid. The reaction was found to proceed nonenzymatically from homocysteine and formaldehyde. As a consequence of this reaction, the ability of homocysteine to counteract the effects of formaldehyde on
A. aerogenes
was investigated.
CYTOLOGY OFCANDIDA ALBICANSAS INFLUENCED BY DRUGS ACTING ON THE CYTOPLASMIC MEMBRANE
Authors: Gale Glen R.
Published: January 2020

Gale, GlenR. (Veterans Administration Hospital, Durham, N.C.) Cytology ofCandida albicansas influenced by drugs acting on the cytoplasmic membrane. J. Bacteriol.86:151–157. 1963.—An electron microscopic comparison was made of the cytological responses ofCandida albicansto benzalkonium chloride, amphotericin B, and filipin, all of which are thought to exert their primary pharmacological actions on the cytoplasmic membrane of susceptible microorganisms. After 5 to 15 min of exposure to benzalkonium chloride, most of the cytoplasm became less dense, and intact nuclei, mitochondria, or intracytoplasmic membranes were not observed. The remaining dense cytoplasm contained numerous small holes. The polyene antifungal agents, amphotericin B and filipin, caused a reduction in cytoplasmic density, but had no observable effect on nuclei or mitochondria. The intervals before onset of changes induced by the polyene agents correlated with the known time-dependent binding of these drugs by cells, and the decreased electron scattering induced by all three agents was compatible with their known abilities to cause a loss of integrity of the cytoplasmic membrane with resultant leakage of cytoplasmic components. No consistent morphological effect of any of these drugs on the cytoplasmic membrane could be shown.
EFFECT OF TETRACYCLINES ON THE INTRACELLULAR AMINO ACIDS OF MOLDS
Authors: Freeman Bob A. , Circo Richard
Published: January 2020

Freeman, BobA. (University of Chicago, Chicago, Ill.)and Richard Circo. Effect of tetracyclines on the intracellular amino acids of molds. J. Bacteriol.86:38–44. 1963.—The tetracycline antibiotics were shown to alter the amino acid metabolism of molds whose growth is not markedly affected. Eight molds were grown in the presence of these antiobiotics; four exhibited a general reduction in the concentration of the intracellular amino acids, except for glutamic acid and alanine. In most of these four cultures, the tetracyclines also caused the complete disappearance of arginine, lysine, proline, phenylalanine, and tyrosine from the intracellular amino acid pool. The significance of these observations and the usefulness of the method in the study of the mechanisms of antibiotic action are discussed.
BIOCHEMISTRY OF SPORULATION II
Authors: Hanson Richard S. , Srinivasan V. R. , Halvorson H. Orin
Published: January 2020

Hanson, Richard
S. (University of Illinois, Urbana), V. R.
Srinivasan, and H. Orin Halvorson
. Biochemistry of sporulation. II. Enzymatic changes during sporulation of
Bacillus cereus
. J. Bacteriol.
86:
45–50. 1963.—It has been possible to correlate enzymatic activities of
Bacillus cereus
strain T with particular phases of growth and sporulation by using cultures in which the cells grow rapidly and undergo the transition from growth to sporulation in a synchronous manner. Cells harvested during vegetative growth lack a functional tricarboxylic acid cycle, and the enzymes required for the completion of this cycle are synthesized during the transition from growth to sporulation. α-Picolinic acid, a specific antisporogenic agent, prevented the synthesis of aconitase. Its effect on aconitase synthesis was reversed by agents capable of reversing its inhibition of sporulation, and, therefore, its antisporogenic activity is believed to be related to its ability to prevent the formation of an active tricarboxylic acid cycle, which is required for sporulation but not growth.
IDENTIFICATION OFCORYNEBACTERIUM DIPHTHERIAEWITH FLUORESCENT ANTIBACTERIAL REAGENTS
Authors: Moody Max D. , Jones Wallis L.
Published: January 2020

Moody, MaxD. (Communicable Disease Center, Atlanta, Ga.)and Wallis L. Jones. Identification ofCorynebacterium diphtheriaewith fluorescent antibacterial reagents. J. Bacteriol.86:285–293. 1963.—Conditions are described whereby fluorescent-antibody reagents could be prepared and used to identifyCorynebacterium diphtheriaein pure and mixed cultures and in clinical materials. The use of O and OK antigens for immunization of rabbits to prepare the antibody was compared. The most satisfactory reagents were those made from serum of rabbits injected with live (OK) suspensions ofC. diphtheriae. Such fluorescent reagents were used successfully in direct and indirect fluorescent-antibody tests to identify both toxinogenic and atoxinogenicC. diphtheriaebut not to differentiate the two kinds of organisms.
PATHWAYS OF GLUCOSE CATABOLISM IN
BACILLUS SUBTILIS
Authors: Goldman Manuel , Blumenthal Harold J.
Published: January 2020

Goldman, Manuel
(The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor)
and Harold J. Blumenthal
. Pathways of glucose catabolism in
Bacillus subtilis
. J. Bacteriol.
86:
303–311. 1963.—Under aerobic conditions, resting cells of
Bacillus subtilis
Marburg C4 catabolized 60 to 70% of glucose by the Embden-Meyerhof pathway and the remainder by the hexose monophosphate pathway; under anaerobic conditions, the percentages were 70 to 80 and 20 to 30, respectively. These estimates, based on two different radio-isotopic procedures, were the same whether the cells were grown in a glucose medium containing a complex, organic nitrogen source (C cells) or a simple inorganic nitrogen source (S cells). In C cells, respiration was inhibited by fluoride, whereas S cells were relatively insensitive to this influence. Factors such as the initial concentration of inorganic phosphate or glucose during growth, and the concentration of inorganic phosphate or even the presence of fluoride during glucose utilization by resting cells, had no major effects on the pathways of glucose catabolism. From an examination of the isotopic distribution in an isolated intermediate, lactic acid, it seems unlikely that the radioisotopic estimates were influenced by such other factors as participation of an Entner-Doudoroff pathway, extensive randomization of C
1
activity into other positions of the hexose molecule, or extensive CO
2
fixation.
ACQUIRED IMMUNITY TO CANDIDIASIS IN MICE
Authors: Hasenclever H. F. , Mitchell William O.
Published: January 2020

Hasenclever, H. F. (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, Md.)and William O. Mitchell. Acquired immunity to candidiasis in mice. J. Bacteriol.86:401–406. 1963.—Some protection to chronic candidiasis in mice was produced by sublethal intraperitoneal infection withCandida albicansand by the injection in incomplete Freund's adjuvant of nonviableCoccidioides immitisspherule fragments. Other pathogenic or nonpathogenic fungi produced little or no protection.Salmonella enteritidislipopolysaccharide, known to protect mice against the acute toxic manifestations ofC. albicans, had no effect upon chronic candidiasis. A factor active in vitro against the growth ofC. albicanswas shown to be in the serum of resistant mice.
EFFECT OF pH ON INTERMEDIATES PRODUCED DURING GROWTH AND SPORULATION OF
BACILLUS CEREUS
Authors: Nakata H. M.
Published: January 2020

Nakata
, H. M. (Washington State University, Pullman). Effect of pH on intermediates produced during growth and sporulation of
Bacillus cereus
. J. Bacteriol.
86:
577–581. 1963.—Cultures of
Bacillus cereus
strain T, grown in an unbuffered glucose-yeast extract-mineral salts medium and in the same medium buffered at pH 6.4, 7.0, or 7.4, were examined to determine the effect of pH on the production and utilization of metabolic intermediates during growth and sporulation. Although the growth rate of the unbuffered cultures decreased as a result of changes in pH, the growth rates of the buffered cultures were constant and similar. Only slight differences were observed in the final number of spores produced, and in the time required for the completion of the sporulation process. Acetic and lactic acids were the chief acidic end products of growth in buffered media, in which more than twice the amount of these acids accumulated than was detected in unbuffered cultures. In the latter cultures, pyruvic acid, rather than lactic acid, was formed together with acetate. Acetoin also accumulated in the unbuffered cultures, but none was detected in any of the buffered cultures. All of these intermediates were rapidly utilized by the cells once sporulation began. Poly-β-hydroxybutyric acid accumulation in the cells during the early stages of sporulation was also influenced by pH, with the greatest accumulation of this polymer occurring in the cells grown at pH 6.2 to 6.4. These results support the hypothesis that high polymer content in the cells is not imperative for the completion of sporulation. However, if any is formed, it is completely utilized during the final stages of spore formation.
COLONIAL GROWTH OF ANAEROBIC SPIROCHETES ON SOLID MEDIA
Authors: Hardy Paul H. , Lee Young C. , Nell E. Ellen
Published: January 2020

Hardy, Paul H., Jr.(The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md.),Young C. Lee, and E. Ellen Nell. Colonial growth of anaerobic spirochetes on solid media. J. Bacteriol.86:616–626. 1963.—A total of 14 strains of treponemes and one ofBorrelia vincentiiwere cultivated as colonies on agar plates inoculated under ordinary atmospheric conditions, but incubated anaerobically. Every spirochete strain produced diffuse colonies with growth located primarily in the agar; in addition, eight treponeme strains also produced discrete colonies with surface growth. These represented stable colonial variants in several strains, and in one the spirochetes in the surface colonies showed permanently altered cellular morphology. Sufficient variation in colonial morphology was noted between strains to suggest that this may have some value in further classification of this group of microorganisms. Several conditions contributed to the successful growth of all strains as colonies, the most important of which was the use of a firm jelling agar preparation, Ionagar No. 2, that permitted preparation of plates with a final agar concentration of 0.7%. Agar concentrations of 0.9%, or above, in media inhibited treponeme growth.
BIOSYNTHETIC LATENCY IN EARLY STAGES OF DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID TRANSFORMATION IN
BACILLUS SUBTILIS
Authors: Nester E. W. , Stocker B. A. D.
Published: January 2020

Nester
, E. W. (University of Washington, Seattle)
and B. A. D. Stocker
. Biosynthetic latency in early stages of deoxyribonucleic acid transformation in
Bacillus subtilis
. J. Bacteriol.
86:
785–796. 1963—In the
Bacillus subtilis
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) transformation system, transformants do not increase in number for 3 to 5 hr after the addition of DNA. During most of this period, the transformants are resistant to the bactericidal action of penicillin under conditions which result in the killing of over 90% of the recipient population. This lag in growth and nonmultiplication of the transformants (inferred from penicillin resistance) is also reflected in a lag in the synthesis of an enzyme specified by the donor DNA. Thus, when a cell population deficient in the enzyme tryptophan synthetase is transformed to tryptophan independence, activity of this enzyme cannot be detected in whole cells until 3 to 4 hr after the cells have been exposed to the DNA. Recombination between donor and recipient DNA occurs long before this. Even 30 min after exposure of a competent population of
try
2
−
his
2
+
cells to
try
2
+
his
2
−
DNA, 20% of the total
try
2
+
activity found in re-extracted DNA exists as recombinant DNA,
try
2
+
his
2
+
. This value, the maximal linkage obtained, remains constant during incubation of the DNA-treated culture for an additional 5 hr. In addition to the heterogeneous response of a DNA-treated competent culture to penicillin killing, the recipient culture appears to be heterogeneous in ability to undergo transformation. Thus, the frequency of joint transformation of two unlinked markers is much higher than would be expected on the basis of the random coincidence of more than one DNA molecule entering the same cell in a uniformly competent recipient population. A possible relationship between these two aspects of heterogeneity of a DNA-treated recipient population is discussed.
ACTION OF A HISTIDINE ANALOGUE, 1,2,4-TRIAZOLE-3-ALANINE, IN
SALMONELLA TYPHIMURIUM
Authors: Levin Alfred P. , Hartman Philip E.
Published: January 2020

Levin, Alfred
P. (The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md.),
and Philip E. Hartman
. Action of a histidine analogue, 1,2,4-triazole-3-alanine, in
Salmonella typhimurium
. J. Bacteriol.
86:
820–828. 1963.—The effect of the histidine analogue, 1,2,4-triazole-3-alanine (TRA), on growth and enzyme synthesis in histidine auxotrophs of
Salmonella typhimurium
has been studied. TRA allows an increase of approximately 50% in the amount of protein in a culture but does not allow concomitant synthesis of ribonucleic acid and deoxyribonucleic acid. Although the analogue prevents the formation of active bacteriophage and of enzymatically active inosine 5′-phosphate dehydrogenase, it does not prevent the formation of enzymatically active
l
-histidinol phosphate phosphatase or of imidazoleacetol phosphate transaminase, two enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of histidine. Of the three known functions of histidine in the cell, TRA mimics two: it is incorporated into protein, and it acts as a repressor material for synthesis of enzymes involved in the formation of histidine. TRA fails to act as a feedback inhibitor of the first step in the formation of histidine.
EXTRACELLULAR POLYSACCHARIDE OF MUCOID
LACTOBACILLUS BIFIDUS
Authors: Wang Marian , Steers Edward , Norris Robert F.
Published: January 2020

Wang, Marian
(University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia),
Edward Steers, and Robert F. Norris
. Extracellular polysaccharide of mucoid
Lactobacillus bifidus
. J. Bacteriol.
86:
898–903. 1963.—The extracellular polysaccharide produced by the “Jackson-mucoid” strain of
Lactobacillus bifidus
was isolated and purified by three different procedures. The component sugars of the polysaccharide were identified by paper chromatography and confirmed by infrared analysis. Galacturonic acid, galactose, glucose, and 6-deoxy-talose were identified. Contrary to a previous report from this laboratory, fucose was not found to be a component of this polysaccharide.
PHOSPHORUS DISTRIBUTION IN PLEUROPNEUMONIA-LIKE AND L-TYPE ORGANISMS
Authors: Langenfeld M. G. , Smith P. F.
Published: January 2020

Langenfeld, M. G. (University of South Dakota, Vermillion)and P. F. Smith. Phosphorus distribution in pleuropneumonia-like and L-type organisms. J. Bacteriol.86:1216–1219. 1963.—Sterol-requiring and sterol-nonrequiring pleuropneumonia-like organisms, salt-requiring and salt-nonrequiring L forms, and their parent bacteria, were analyzed for total, acid-soluble, lipid, and nucleic acid phosphorus. Total phosphorus in all types of organisms was equivalent, except for salt-requiring L forms in which it was greatly elevated. The elevated total phosphorus reflected a great increase in acid-soluble phosphorus in the salt-requiring L forms. The lipid phosphorus content of pleuropneumonia-like organisms and salt-nonrequiring L forms was significantly greater than in the other types of organisms. The nucleic acid phosphorus content of salt-requiring L forms was lower than that of all other organisms
SUGAR TRANSPORT IN A PSYCHROPHILIC YEAST
Authors: Cirillo Vincent P. , Wilkins Peter O. , Anton Joseph
Published: January 2020

Cirillo, Vincent
P. (Seton Hall College of Medicine and Dentistry, Jersey City, N.J.),
Peter O. Wilkins, and Joseph Anton
. Sugar transport in a psychrophilic yeast. J. Bacteriol.
86:
1259–1264. 1963.—The mechanism and temperature characteristic for sugar transport were compared in a psychrophilic and a mesophilic yeast. Between 0 and 10 C, glucose utilization, glucosamine accumulation, and sorbose transport showed a very high temperature characteristic in the mesophile (μ = 50,000) compared with the psychrophile (μ = 12,000). Hexokinase activity in cell-free extracts from both yeasts, however, showed the same low temperature characteristic (μ = 15,000). Although the temperature characteristic for sugar transport was markedly different for the mesophile and the psychrophile, sugar transport in both yeasts met the criteria for carrier-mediated facilitated diffusion.
HYDROLYSIS OF PROTEINS AND NUCLEIC ACIDS BY LANCEFIELD GROUP A AND OTHER STREPTOCOCCI
Authors: Deibel R. H.
Published: January 2020

Deibel
, R. H. (American Meat Institute Foundation, Chicago, Ill.). Hydrolysis of proteins and nucleic acids by Lancefield group A and other streptococci. J. Bacteriol.
86:
1270–1274. 1963.—Classically, group A streptococci have been considered to be nonproteolytic in spite of the observation that a proteinase is produced in broth cultures. When tested by the plate method, it was observed that 78% of 47 strains were proteolytic when the cultures were incubated anaerobically. Some strains hydrolyzed gelatin aerobically; however, the hydrolysis of casein and pepsin required anaerobic conditions of growth. Other proteins hydrolyzed included wheat gluten and a beef-muscle preparation. The hydrolysis of bovine serum albumin, lactalbumin, sheep plasma, and lysozyme was not detected in plate cultures. The hydrolysis of deoxyribonucleic acid and ribonucleic acid was characteristic of the majority of the strains. Unlike the proteolytic activity, the nucleolytic activity was independent of oxygen tension. Other streptococci were screened for hydrolytic activity; among these strains, only the single strain of
Streptococcus sanguis
tested possessed proteolytic activity. Deoxyribonuclease activity was observed in “animal” but not “human” group C strains, and in some strains of groups G and L.
ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC STUDY OF SOME STRAINS OF
BACTEROIDES
Authors: Bladen Howard A. , Waters Judith F.
Published: January 2020

Bladen, Howard
A. (National Institute of Dental Research, Bethesda, Md.),
and Judith F. Waters
. Electron microscopic study of some strains of
Bacteroides
. J. Bacteriol.
86:
1339–1344. 1963.—Cultures of some unidentified strains of
Bacteroides
were fixed, and embedded in Vestopal W. Thin sections were cut with a microtome and examined in an electron microscope. A triple-layered cell wall completely encircled the organisms and was separated from the cytoplasmic membrane by a space of 150 to 250 A. This space was crossed by frequent bridges connecting the cell wall to the cytoplasmic membrane. A five-layered cytoplasmic membrane was occasionally observed. However, the outer two dense layers were often difficult to resolve as separate structures and usually appeared as a single thick dense line. Cytokinesis of
Bacteroides
involved the inward annular growth of the cell wall-cytoplasmic membrane. No cell-plate formation was observed. Intracellular membranous elements occurred in
Bacteroides
and are reported.
CONTROL OF ISOCITRATASE FORMATION IN
RHIZOPUS NIGRICANS
Authors: Wegener Warner S. , Romano Antonio H.
Published: January 2020

Wegener, Warner
S. (University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio),
and Antonio H. Romano
. Control of isocitratase formation in
Rhizopus nigricans
. J. Bacteriol.
87:
156–161. 1964.—A fumaric acid-producing strain of
Rhizopus nigricans
was found to produce a fair level of isocitratase in a casein hydrolysate medium. Glucose repressed enzyme formation. When glucose was utilized during growth, there was a relief of repression, and enzyme synthesis was resumed at a rate equivalent to that found in nonrepressed cells. Zinc stimulated isocitratase formation in glucose-repressed cultures by stimulating growth and glucose utilization, thereby decreasing accumulation of repressor metabolites derived from glucose. The effectiveness of acetate as an inducer was greater on glucose-repressed cells than on nonrepressed cells; cells grown in the presence of glucose formed higher levels of isocitratase when subsequently replaced with an acetate-containing inductive medium than did cells grown without glucose. Moreover, addition of 2 ppm of Zn
++
during the inductive replacement phase resulted in a twofold increase in isocitratase formation. The hypothesis is submitted that Zn
++
exerts its action by stimulating ribonucleic acid (RNA) synthesis, thereby facilitating the formation of a specific RNA during induction. Preliminary evidence implicating Zn
++
in the stimulation of RNA synthesis in this organism is presented.
DEMONSTRATION OF INDUCED SYNERGISTIC HEMOLYSIS BY “NONHEMOLYTIC”
STAPHYLOCOCCUS
SPECIES
Authors: Smith Doyle C. , Foltz V. D. , Lord T. H.
Published: January 2020

Smith, Doyle
C. (Kansas State University, Manhattan), V. D.
Foltz, and T. H. Lord
. Demonstration of induced synergistic hemolysis by “non-hemolytic”
Staphylococcus
species. J. Bacteriol.
87:
188–195. 1964.—The synergistic hemolysis of “normally nonhemolytic” staphylococci on blood-agar incubated in, or adjacent to, a secondary zone of certain hemolytic staphylococci is described. The synergism apparently results from the combining of two factors,
Z
, produced by hemolytic staphylococci that elaborate a secondary zone, and
T
, produced by “nonhemolytic” staphylococci. The production of the two factors is substantiated by (i) the absence of clear hemolysis around nonhemolytic colonies and in the secondary zone of hemolytic colonies, and by (ii) evidence of clear hemolysis when the secondary zone reaches to within a few millimeters, and finally surrounds, the nonhemolytic colonies. It was possible to show on a blood-agar plate containing a mixture of both hemolytic and nonhemolytic cultures that all colonies exhibited a zone of clear hemolysis. When 400 colonies were selected from such a blood plate, 280 were nonhemolytic on subsequent studies. The remaining 120 colonies were hemolytic. Thus, there is danger of confusing non-hemolytic
Staphylococcus
colonies, showing induced hemolysis, with truly hemolytic colonies. If a similar situation occurred on a diagnostic blood plate, it could very likely result in failure to identify a possibly pathogenic staphylococcus.
MEDIUM FOR DIFFERENTIATING THE GRAM-NEGATIVE, NONFERMENTING BACILLI OF MEDICAL INTEREST
Authors: Sellers Walter
Published: January 2020

Sellers, Walter
(U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks Air Force Base, Tex.). Medium for differentiating the gram-negative, nonfermenting bacilli of medical interest. J. Bacteriol.
87:
46–48. 1964.—An agar-slant medium is described for differentiating gram-negative, nonfermenting bacilli of medical interest. Differences in the ability of bacilli to grow anaerobically in the presence of nitrate, to produce pH changes, to produce N
2
from nitrite and nitrate (singly and in combination), to fluoresce, and to oxidize a drop of glucose solution to acid in the presence of high peptone concentrations were used in the development of the medium. Organisms differentiated by the medium include
Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacterium anitratum, Mima polymorpha
, and
Vibrio alcaligenes
or
Alcaligenes faecalis
.
FORMATE-PYRUVATE EXCHANGE REACTION INSTREPTOCOCCUS FAECALISI
Authors: Wood N. P. , O'Kane D. J.
Published: January 2020

Wood, N. P. (A. & M. College of Texas, College Station),and D. J. O'Kane. Formate-pyruvate exchange reaction inStreptococcus faecalis. I. Factor requirement for whole cells. J. Bacteriol.87:97–103. 1964.—A factor present in plant and animal sources was found necessary for the incorporation of formate-C14into pyruvate byStreptococcus faecalis10Cl. Yeast extract produced a response linear in the range between 10 and 30 mg/ml of reaction mixture. Soy peptone, beef peptone, and Brain Heart Infusion replaced yeast extract, but various intermediates, cofactors, amino acids, purines, pyrimidines, and peptides did not stimulate the reaction. A lag occurred in the rate of formate incorporation that was not influenced by anaerobic conditions or growth of cells in a medium containing pyruvate and formate. Phosphate or maleate buffer permitted rapid exchange velocities but tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane or collidine buffer was inhibitory. Heating yeast extract at 121 C for 15 min in 3nH2SO4produced 66% inactivation of the factor(s), whereas treatment with 3nKOH produced 97% inactivation. The factor(s) was insoluble in butanol, benzene, ethyl acetate, or chloroform. The material adsorbed on Dowex-1 (OH−) and Amberlite IR-120 (H+) but not on Amberlite IR-4B (OH−). The active component(s) was highly polar, nonvolatile, dialyzable, and had amphoteric properties.
INFLUENCE OF BIOLOGICAL METHYLATION ON THE BIOSYNTHESIS OF MITOMYCIN A
Authors: Kirsch E. J. , Korshalla J. D.
Published: January 2020

Kirsch
, E. J. (Lederle Laboratories, Pearl River, N.Y.),
and J. D. Korshalla
. Influence of biological methylation on the biosynthesis of mitomycin A. J. Bacteriol.
87:
247–255. 1964.—Methionine-methyl-
C
14
was shown to contribute radioactive carbon to the mitomycin antibiotic complex synthesized by
Streptomyces verticillatus
in a simple synthetic medium containing glucose and inorganic salts. The position of radioactivity in mitomycin A was determined by selective hydrolysis of the 7 and 9a methoxyl functions. Essentially all of the radioactivity incorporated was distributed evenly between these two substituent groups. Mitomycin A, synthesized by washed resting cells of
S. verticillatus
at the expense of internal metabolites, also incorporated methyl label. When the methionine antagonist,
d,l
-ethionine, was added to resting cells at a concentration causing 65% inhibition of antibiotic synthesis, incorporation of radioactive methyl groups was reduced to the same extent. Synthetic medium supplemented with
d,l
-ethionine supported about 90% maximal growth of the culture, but antibiotic biosynthesis was markedly inhibited. The addition of the inhibitor during the period of rapid antibiotic synthesis resulted in cessation of further increases in antibiotic titer.
l
-Methionine was shown to be capable of reversing ethionine inhibition; the extent of reversal was dependent on the concentration, as well as on the time of addition of amino acid. The data suggest the critical nature of a methyl transfer system in the biogenesis of biologically active mitomycins.
REQUIREMENT OF
SPHAEROTILUS
FOR CYANOCOBALAMIN
Authors: Okrend Harold , Dondero Norman C.
Published: January 2020

Okrend, Harold
(Rutgers, The State University, New Brunswick, N.J.),
and Norman C. Dondero
. Requirement of
Sphaerotilus
for cyanocobalamin. J. Bacteriol.
87:
286–292. 1964.—Cultures of
Sphaerotilus
grew well in a culture medium containing pancreatic digest of casein, glycerol, and yeast autolysate, but grew poorly in a defined medium containing monosodium glutamate, glycerol, and salts. Measurement of dry weight, cell nitrogen, and deoxyribonucleic acid showed that the addition of 1.0 mμg/ml of cyancobalamin to the defined medium gave growth equivalent to that obtained with the pancreatic digest of casein. Methionine, in a concentration of 2 × 10
4
-fold, relieved the requirement for cyanocobalamin, but cobalt did not replace cyanocobalamin nor stimulate growth. Of 38 additional cultures of diverse origin, 19 showed stimulation by visible comparison of growth in tubes; nonquantitative comparisons, however, were not reliable for showing differences in growth of this organism.
THE GENUS
VEILLONELLA
II
Authors: Rogosa M. , Bishop Ferial S.
Published: January 2020

Rogosa
, M. (National Institute of Dental Research, U.S. Public Health Service, Bethesda, Md.),
and Ferial S. Bishop
. The genus
Veillonella
. II. Nutritional studies. J. Bacteriol.
87:
574–580. 1964.—A medium is described for the study of the vitamin, hypoxanthine, putrescine, or cadaverine requirements of 86
Veillonella
isolates from man, rabbit, rat, and hamster. No organism required riboflavine or folic acid for growth. Niacin and calcium pantothenate were often stimulatory, but in nearly all cases were dispensable. Biotin and
p
-aminobenzoic acid were frequently stimulatory and sometimes indispensable for continued growth.
V. parvula
(antigenic group VI) required pyridoxal and thiamine and did not require putrescine or cadaverine.
V. alcalescens
(antigenic group IV) required pyridoxal, generally required thiamine, and also required putrescine or cadaverine. Of the isolates, 25 from the rat and 3 from the hamster (antigenic group II) generally behaved like
V. parvula
, except that a putrescine or cadaverine requirement was often observed. Spermine, spermidine, and agmatine could not replace putrescine or cadaverine. Although succinate is metabolized by resting cells, the organisms could not grow with succinate as an energy source.
MORPHOLOGICAL ABERRATION OF
ARTHROBACTER GLOBIFORMIS
CELLS DUE TO BIOTIN DEFICIENCY
Authors: Chan E. C. S.
Published: January 2020

Chan
, E. C. S. (University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada). Morphological aberration of
Arthrobacter globiformis
cells due to biotin deficiency. J. Bacteriol.
87:
641–651. 1964.—Morphological aberration of
Arthrobacter globiformis
strain 425 was shown to occur during growth in a chemically defined medium without added biotin. Such aberrant cells could revert back to normal coccoid forms upon inoculation into fresh medium supplemented with the vitamin. This abnormal cellular development occurred even when there was good growth (turbidity) or increase in total cell mass. Light photomicrographs of negative and cell-wall stains of the organism at different times of the morphological growth cycle are presented in support of these observations. The relationship between cellular aberration and the biochemical role of biotin is briefly discussed.
MOTILE MARINE BACTERIA I
Authors: Leifson Einar , Cosenza B. J. , Murchelano R. , Cleverdon R. C.
Published: January 2020

Leifson, Einar
(Loyola University, Chicago, Ill.), B. J.
Cosenza, R. Murchelano, and R. C. Cleverdon
. Motile marine bacteria. I. Techniques, ecology, and general characteristics. J. Bacteriol.
87:
652–666. 1964.—Aerobic, heterotrophic bacteria were isolated from the waters of the Long Island Sound, Narragansett Bay, Atlantic Ocean, and from the intestine of a variety of marine animals found along the shore of the Long Island Sound. A total of about 600 cultures of motile bacteria were studied morphologically and physiologically, with special emphasis on flagellar characteristics. The great majority of the bacteria isolated from the water were polar flagellate, nonfermentative, nonpigmented, and gramnegative. Most of these were straight, capsulated rods, but a considerable number were curved like vibrios. Yellow-pigmented isolates were often nonmotile, and the motile forms were most frequently subpolar flagellate. Several rosette-forming bacteria, including
Caulobacter
species, were isolated. Two typical spirilla and one flagellated coccus were found. Peritrichous flagellate bacteria, both gram-positive and gram-negative, were rare except in bottom mud. The normal intestinal flora of marine animals, such as fish and shellfish, consisted of polar flagellate, fermentative, non-pigmented, gram-negative, straight rods. Curved forms, like vibrios, were less common. Polar multitrichous flagellate forms were not uncommon and included all the luminescent types isolated. A considerable proportion of the polar monotrichous flagellate rods swarmed over the surface of agar media. When grown on solid media, all of these showed mixed polar and lateral flagellation; in liquid media, mainly polar flagellation was found. The ecology and general taxonomy of marine bacteria are discussed.
THYMINELESS MUTATION SITE ON
ESCHERICHIA COLI
CHROMOSOME
Authors: Kitsuji Nobuo
Published: January 2020

Kitsuji, Nobuo
(Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan). Thymineless mutation site on
Escherichia coli
chromosome. J. Bacteriol.
87:
802–808. 1964.—Kinetic studies of the recombinant formation in crosses between
Escherichia coli
K-12 Hfr H, Hfr C, or Hfr P10 as donor and F
−
W1177
thy
−
his
−
as recipients showed that the time of appearance of
thy
+
Sm
r
recombinants lay between that of
xyl
+
Sm
r
and
his
+
Sm
r
, indicating that the
thy
gene lies between the
xyl
and
his
markers. Genetic analysis of recombinants of the Hfr C × W117
thy
−
his
−
cross further indicated that the
thy
gene is located on the chromosome between the
Sm
marker and the
his
marker. In matings between seven independently isolated thymineless mutants of Hfr P10 and F
−
W1177
thy
−
his
−
,
thy
+
recombinants of various recombination rates appeared. Thus, it was suggested that in
E. coli
K-12 the
thy
gene occupies some region between the
Sm
marker and the
his
marker on the chromosome, and that there are many thymineless mutation sites in it.
INDUCIBLE TRANSPORT SYSTEM FOR CITRULLINE IN
STREPTOCOCCUS FAECALIS
Authors: Bibb William R. , Straughn W. R.
Published: January 2020

Bibb, William
R. (University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill),
and W. R. Straughan
. Inducible transport system for citrulline in
Streptococcus faecalis
. J. Bacteriol.
87:
815–822. 1964.—With
Streptococcus faecalis
F24, it was demonstrated: that the citrulline transport mechanism, induced by growth in arginine, follows enzyme kinetics; that cell membranes from induced and noninduced cells differ considerably in their ability to adsorb citrulline; that protoplasts demonstrate a similar selectivity; and that, throughout various alterations of the growth medium and growth conditions, a consistent difference in citrulline uptake between induced and noninduced cells was present. A proposed explanation based on experimental findings is offered.
POROSITY OF ISOLATED CELL WALLS OFSACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAEANDBACILLUS MEGATERIUM
Authors: Gerhardt Philipp , Judge Jean A.
Published: January 2020

Gerhardt, Philipp(The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor),and Jean A. Judge. Porosity of isolated cell walls of a yeast and a bacillus. J. Bacteriol.87:945–951. 1964.—Decagram masses of cell walls were isolated fromSaccharomyces cerevisiaeandBacillus megaterium;their porosity was examined by measuring the extent of uptake with polyethylene glycols and dextrans varying in molecular weight from 62 to 2,000,000. The results indicated that both walls are heteroporous. The near equality of extrapolated water-uptake values and determined moisture contents suggested that water in the cell walls is mainly free for distribution of solutes. Polymers with molecular weights of 4,500 and above were excluded by the yeast walls, and those with molecular weights of 57,000 were excluded by the bacillus walls; from these results, maximal openings of 36 and 107 A, respectively, were calculated. Electron micrographs of shadowed, stained, and sectioned walls revealed fine structure not inconsistent with heteroporosity, but the predicted openings were not seen. Altogether, in structure and permeability behavior, the cell walls were like a random meshwork of cross-linked macromolecular strands.
BASE COMPOSITION OF DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID OF SULFATE-REDUCING BACTERIA DEDUCED FROM BUOYANT DENSITY MEASUREMENTS IN CESIUM CHLORIDE
Authors: Saunders Grady F. , Campbell L. Leon , Postgate John R.
Published: January 2020

Saunders, Grady
F. (University of Illinois, Urbana), L.
Leon Campbell, and John R. Postgate
. Base composition of deoxyribonucleic acid of sulfate-reducing bacteria deduced from buoyant density measurements in cesium chloride. J. Bacteriol.
87:
1073–1078. 1964.—The base composition of the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) of sulfate-reducing bacteria was calculated from buoyant density measurements in CsCl. The sporulating sulfate-reducing bacteria fell into two groups:
Desulfovibrio orientis
with a DNA base composition of 42% guanine plus cytosine (G + C), and
Clostridium nigrificans
with a DNA base composition of 45% G + C. The mesophilic relative of
C. nigrificans
had a DNA base composition of 46% G + C. Thirty strains of nonsporulating sulfate-reducing bacteria called
D. desulfuricans
were studied. They fell into three groups as judged by DNA base composition: group I (11 strains), 60 to 62% G + C; group II (13 strains), 54 to 56% G + C; and group III (6 strains), 46 to 47% G + C. These data underline the need for a taxonomic revision of this group of microorganisms.
GLUCOSAMINE-6-PHOSPHATE DEGRADATION BY
PROTEUS VULGARIS
AND ISOLATION OF PHOSPHOGLUCOSAMINISOMERASE
Authors: Aron H. , Yonenaka H. H. , Nakada H. I.
Published: January 2020

Aron
, H. (University of California, Santa Barbara), H. H.
Yonenaka, and H. I. Nakada
. Glucosamine-6-phosphate degradation by
Proteus vulgaris
and isolation of phosphoglucosaminisomerase. J. Bacteriol.
87:
1123–1128. 1964.—The presence of the enzyme, phosphoglucosaminisomerase, was demonstrated in a strain of
Proteus vulgaris
. Fructose-6-phosphate and ammonia were shown to be the primary reaction products. The optimal pH was 7.2 with a broad peak. This differs from previously reported bacterial phosphoglucosaminisomerases which had a pH optimum of about 5.8. Other properties of the enzyme are presented.
INFLUENCE OF ANTIBIOTIC STABILITY ON THE RESULTS OF IN VITRO TESTING PROCEDURES
Authors: Wick Warren E.
Published: January 2020

Wick, Warren
E. (The Lilly Research Laboratories, Indianapolis, Ind.). Influence of antibiotic stability on the results of in vitro testing procedures. J. Bacteriol.
87:
1162–1170. 1964.—Certain antibiotics undergo at least partial degradation under the conditions of in vitro testing procedures. With cephalothin used as an example, experimental evidence is presented to indicate the necessity for re-evaluation of results obtained from in vitro sensitivity testing methods for some antibiotics. The in vitro activity of cephalothin, tetracycline, and chloramphenicol against a variety of gram-negative bacteria is described. Plate counts demonstrate changes in the viable cell population over a 48-hr period in tubes of minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) tests, with an abrupt rise in MIC value for cephalothin between the 12th and 24th hr. Data obtained by chromatographic methods, showing the degradation of cephalothin for the same time interval, indicated that instability of the antibiotic between the 12th and 24th hr might adversely affect the results obtained from standard 20- to 24-hr in vitro antibiotic sensitivity testing methods. Because repeated administration of an antibiotic to a patient at 4- to 8-hr intervals reinforces the original concentration, a more accurate estimate of antibacterial activity of that antibiotic might preferably be related to this time interval.
MICRO DIFFUSION PRECIPITIN TESTS FOR ENTEROVIRUSES AND INFLUENZA B VIRUS
Authors: Middleton Gordon K. , Cramblett Henry G. , Moffet Hugh L. , Black Joyce P. , Shulenberger Helen
Published: January 2020

Middleton, G. K., Jr.(Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, N.C.), H. G.Cramblett, H. L. Moffet, J. P. Black, and H. Shulenberger. Micro diffusion precipitin tests for enteroviruses and influenza B virus. J. Bacteriol.87:1171–1176. 1964.—A simple micro precipitin gel diffusion test has been adapted to the study of viral antigens. As far as is known from a review of recent literature, this is the first use of the ECHO viruses in precipitin tests and the first attempt to demonstrate by the gel diffusion technique precipitins in a patient's serum after natural virus infection rather than artificial immunization. The principal value of this technique in virology is the rapid identification or qualitative analysis of viral antigen preparations by use of pooled or specific hyperimmune sera. Virus concentrations of 107tcid50per 0.1 ml are required for reliable results, but only 0.015 ml of serum is necessary for each test. Virus-serum precipitin reactions were type-specific except for reciprocal precipitation of ECHO 1 and ECHO 8 by their hyperimmune sera. No viral antigens have been found common to two or more virus types among those tested. Precipitins for viral antigens occur frequently in serum of patients after a viral infection and are readily detected by micro precipitin gel diffusion tests. However, this precipitin test remains at present a tool for virus and antigen identification and offers an approach for research appraisal of host response to infections.
ULTRASTRUCTURE OFTREPONEMA MICRODENTIUMANDBORRELIA VINCENTII
Authors: Bladen Howard A. , Hampp Edward G.
Published: January 2020

Bladen, HowardA. (National Institute of Dental Health, Bethesda, Md.),and Edward G. Hampp. Ultrastructure ofTreponema microdentiumandBorrelia vincentii. J. Bacteriol.87:1180–1191.—A small oralTreponema(FM) andBorrelia vincentii(N9) were harvested after 3 to 7 days of incubation and either embedded in Vestopal W or negatively stained with phosphotungstate. The protoplasmic cylinders of both strains were identical except for size, and had a triple-structured cell wall as well as intracellular concentric laminations. Protoplasmic cylinders of both strains were enclosed in a cell envelope which appeared amorphous in negatively stained preparations, but which had a triple-structured wall when viewed in thin sections. The cell envelope of strain FM also acted as an envelope for the terminal filament; no filament envelope was evident in strain N9. Large structures which contained variable numbers of organisms and which were representative of spirochetal granules were observed. Protoplasmic cylinders contained within such granules frequently were devoid of cell envelopes. The axial filament consisted of several individual fibers which usually terminated in small end knobs. Occasionally, a fiber of the axial filament became a fiber of the terminal filament. Fibers of the terminal filament originated in end knobs similar to, but separate from, those to which the axial filament was attached. A periodicity of 60 A was occasionally observed in the terminal filament envelope of strain FM. A microperiodicity of approximately 20 A was also observed. The fibers of the terminal filament of strain N9 were composed of a large number of fibrils approximately 15 A wide. The periodicity and fibrillar structure of the terminal filament is discussed with reference to proposed models of bacterial flagella suggested by X-ray diffraction data.
TYROSINASE INHERITANCE IN
STREPTOMYCES SCABIES
II
Authors: Gregory Kenneth F. , Huang Jay C. C.
Published: January 2020

Gregory, Kenneth
F. (Ontario Agricultural College, Guelph, Ontario, Canada),
and Jay C. C. Huang
. Tyrosinase inheritance in
Streptomyces scabies
. II. Induction of tyrosinase deficiency by acridine dyes. J. Bacteriol.
87:
1287–1294. 1964.—Growth in minimal medium containing 1 μg of acriflavine per ml resulted in a large increase (up to 62%) in the frequency of tyrosinase-deficient (
tye
−
) mutants in all of ten strains of
Streptomyces scabies
and eight unidentified streptomycetes studied. This increased frequency did not result from the selection of preformed mutants, since
tye
−
clones were usually inhibited by lower concentrations of acriflavine than were tyrosinase-producing (
tye
+
) clones, and no significant difference in mycelial yields occurred between the two types growing in a 1 μg/ml concentration of the dye. The mutations induced by X rays and acriflavine were either allelic or closely linked. This
tye
−
phenotype was not caused by the production of an enzyme inhibitor, lack of a cofactor, or defect in the conversion of a protyrosinase to tyrosinase.
Tye
−
mutants formed no detectable tyrosinase under a variety of conditions, including the presence of possible inducers. Mutants were able to oxidize glucose and succinate. The
S. scabies
tyrosinase was heat-labile (half-life at 59 C = 1.6 min) and not particle-bound. We conclude that acriflavine induces the loss of, or alteration in, a structural gene for tyrosinase production present as an extrachromosomal factor.
CORRELATION BETWEEN GENETIC TRANSFORMABILITY AND NON-PHOTOREACTIVABILITY IN
BACILLUS SUBTILIS
Authors: Kelner Albert
Published: January 2020

Kelner, Albert
(Brandeis University, Waltham, Mass.). Correlation between genetic transformability and nonphotoreactivability in
Bacillus subtilis
. J. Bacteriol.
87:
1295–1303. 1964.—Photoreactivation after ultraviolet irradiation was studied in the transformable
Bacillus subtilis
SB-1. Moderate photoreactivability (maximal increase in survival due to photoreactivating light, five- to tenfold) was found in (i) noncompetent vegatative cells produced in Brain Heart Infusion broth, and in (ii) the total viable cells of a competent culture grown in special competency-producing medium and tested either just before or after transformation with deoxyribonucleic acid. However, no, or only trace, photoreactivation (maximal increase in survival, 1.5- to 2-fold) was found in that fraction of a competent culture actually able to be transformed. This nonphotoreactivability was a temporary property of transformable cells, since clones derived from them were normally photoreactivable. Nonphotoreactivability is not explained by injury to transformants caused by photoreactivating light, although transformants are killed by very large doses of light. The findings in
B. subtilis
strengthen the idea that transformability is generally correlated with nonphotoreactivability.
EFFECTS OF ASPARTATE ON GROWTH AND ON THE SYNTHESIS OF α-AMYLASE IN
PSEUDOMONAS SACCHAROPHILA
Authors: Eisenstadt Jerome M. , Klein Harold P.
Published: January 2020

Eisenstadt, Jerome
M. (Brandeis University, Waltham, Mass.),
and Harold P. Klein
. Effects of aspartate on growth and on the synthesis of α-amylase in
Pseudomonas saccharophila
. J. Bacteriol.
87:
1355–1363. 1964.—Protein synthesis by starch-grown cells of
Pseudomonas saccharophila
is inhibited by low concentrations of
d
-aspartate, whereas assimilation continues for several hours under these conditions. These effects are also observed when the cells are grown with cellobiose or maltose, but not with a wide variety of other carbon sources.
l
-Aspartate at a ratio of about 6:1 completely reverses these effects, whereas adenosine partially does so. One possible basis of the inhibitory effects of
d
-aspartate is in the synthesis of adenosine from inosine.
ISOLATION OF
BORRELIA REFRINGENS
IN PURE CULTURE FROM PATIENTS WITH CONDYLOMATA ACUMINATA
Authors: Hanson Albert W. , Cannefax George R.
Published: January 2020

Hanson, Albert
W. (Communicable Disease Center, Atlanta, Ga.),
and George R. Cannefax
. Isolation of
Borrelia refringens
in pure culture from patients with condylomata acuminata. J. Bacteriol.
88:
111–113. 1964.—
Borrelia refringens
was isolated from five of ten clinical specimens by use of a modification of the Noguchi technique. An enriched anaerobic medium is described for the cultivation of
B. refringens
with retention of morphological characteristics.
INCORPORATION OF S
35
INTO RIBOSOMAL PROTEINS OF
ESCHERICHIA COLI
Authors: Duerre John A.
Published: January 2020

Duerre, John
A. (University of North Dakota, Grand Forks). Incorporation of S
35
into ribosomal proteins of
Escherichia coli
. J. Bacteriol.
88:
130–136. 1964.—The rate of incorporation of S
35
was followed in exponentially growing cultures of
Escherichia coli
. Within a few seconds, the isotope was incorporated into proteins, appearing first in or on the ribosomal particles. Ribosomal proteins from these particles were fractionated into molecular weight classes by gel filtration. The radioactivity from S
35
O
4
=
appeared in the proteins of large molecular weight at a faster rate than in those of small molecular weight. This radioactivity could be displaced from the large molecular weight class with nonradioactive sulfate more rapidly than from the small class. The large molecular weight protein could also be distinguished from the small molecular weight proteins on basis of their higher sulfur content, which corresponds to that of soluble proteins.