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THE CHARACTERIZATION OF MYCOBACTERIAL STRAINS BY THE COMPOSITION OF THEIR LIPIDE EXTRACTS
Author(s) -
Smith D. W.,
Randall H. M.,
GastambideOdier M. M.,
Koevoet A. L.
Publication year - 1957
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1957.tb49655.x
Subject(s) - library science , clinical microbiology , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , computer science
After a brief introduction, we shall present studies on the reproducibility of the techniques, a consideration of the sensitivity of the method and, finally, a n application that is presently under consideration. I n 1948 a research program studying the immunizing properties of fractions of the tubercle bacillus was in progress in the Bacteriology Department of the University of Michigan. In this study, complex extracts were prepared from mass cultures of the organism and were tested in guinea pigs and mice for their capacity to cause alterations in the normal resistance of the animals to tuberculosis. About this time, one of us (HMR) approached the Bacteriology Department with an inquiry as to whether there were any lines of research in which infrared spectroscopic studies could make a contribution to the study of complex biological mixtures. The feasibility of such an investigation in the work on immunity in tuberculosis was evident. The fact that the extracts being prepared from the tubercle bacillus were of a lipide nature proved to be an important factor in the progress made in the present research.