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The influence of encapsulation upon the ability of Klebsiella pneumoniae to survive whilst airborne and to cause lung disease in mice
Author(s) -
Bolister Nina J.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
letters in applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.698
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1472-765X
pISSN - 0266-8254
DOI - 10.1111/j.1472-765x.1993.tb01402.x
Subject(s) - klebsiella pneumoniae , bacteria , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , klebsiella , enterobacteriaceae , relative humidity , escherichia coli , biochemistry , genetics , gene , physics , thermodynamics
Cultures of a strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae were prepared, both with intact capsules and with only a residual layer of exopolysaccharide remaining. No significant difference in the survival of the two sets of bacteria was observed in aerosols at 60% relative humidity. The decapsulated bacteria multiplied less rapidly in mouse lungs than did the intact bacteria for the first 24 h after animal exposure. However, no subsequent difference in multiplication rate was observed.