In contrast to results from a recent study, we found the fatty acid composition of Legionella pneumophila to be distinct from the fatty acid composition of Moraxella anatipestifer. M. anatipestifer contained large amounts (50%) of 13-methyltetradecanoic acid and smaller amounts (5 to 22%) of branched-chain hydroxy acids, whereas L. pneumophila contained 14-methylpentadecanoic acid as the major component (30%), with no or trace amounts (<1%) of 13-methyltetradecanoic and hydroxy acids. Similar fatty acid results were obtained on two different growth media.
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