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Anaerobiosis and oxygen consumption of some strains of Propionibacterium and a modified method for comparing the oxygen sensitivity of various anaerobes
Author(s) -
Schwartz A. C.
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
zeitschrift für allgemeine mikrobiologie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.58
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1521-4028
pISSN - 0044-2208
DOI - 10.1002/jobm.19730130806
Subject(s) - propionibacterium , oxygen , anaerobic exercise , chemistry , biology , bacteria , organic chemistry , physiology , genetics
A method is described that permits to compare the oxygen senstivity of different anaerobes independent of the respective cultural conditions, when a certain procedure of standardization outlined in detail is observed. If the corrected inhibition zones ( 1 ) obtained in deep agar cultures under 2 atm of O 2 are plotted against the logrithms of the decimal dilutions ( D ) used for inocula, a straight line results which is described by the equation I = A log D + B . It is sugggested to call the slope A „modification factor”, and B “constant of oxygen sensitivity”. As proved for Propionibacterium a high value of A indicates a respiration, or a similar oxygen‐consuming process, which is responsible for the oxygen tolerance of the organism concerned. Growth inhibition becomes effective in Propionibacterium , only when the amount of oxygen present exceeds the oxygen‐consuming activity of the cells, and thus cannot be removed by them. The existence of several oxygensensitive sites in P. shermanii and P. pentosaceum is demonstrated by the inactivation of lactate, glycerol, and propionate oxidation in aerated cell suspensions.