1887

Abstract

SUMMARY: Catalase activity of an order comparable with that of aerobic bacteria was demonstrated in many strains of pathogenic leptospira. There was no correlation with serotype or virulence. Catalase was intracellular; its activity was increased by lysing the leptospires with bile salt or by freezing and thawing, and was inhibited by 0·001 -KCN or heating. Its optimum pH was 7·0 and optimum temperature 87° whether the leptospires were grown at 80° or 37°. Ageing cultures showed increased catalase activity inversely proportional to the numbers of leptospira organisms, due to autolysis. Qualitative tests for peroxidase activity were negative. Positive qualitative tests for enzymic oxidizing systems were obtained with catalase- active and catalase-inactive leptospires in washed suspensions and when growing on solid media.

Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journal/micro/10.1099/00221287-22-1-1
1960-02-01
2024-04-19
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

/deliver/fulltext/micro/22/1/mic-22-1-1.html?itemId=/content/journal/micro/10.1099/00221287-22-1-1&mimeType=html&fmt=ahah

References

  1. Babudieri B. 1948; Ricerche di microscopia ellettronica. III. Studio del genere Leptospira. R.C. Ist. sup. Sanit 11:1046
    [Google Scholar]
  2. Czekalowski J. W., Eaves G. 1955; The structure of leptospirae as revealed by electron microscopy. J. Path. Bact 69:129
    [Google Scholar]
  3. Czekalowski J. W., Mcleod J. W., Rodican J. 1953; The growth and respiration of leptospira in solid or semi-solid media with special reference to Dinger’s phenomenon. Brit. J. exp. Path 34:588
    [Google Scholar]
  4. Faine S. 1957; Virulence in Leptospira. I. Reactions of guinea-pigs to experimental infection with Leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae. . Brit. J. exp. Path 38:1
    [Google Scholar]
  5. Faine S. 1959; Iron as a growth requirement for pathogenic leptospira. J. gen. Microbiol 20:246
    [Google Scholar]
  6. Fujita A., Kodama T. 1931; Manometrische Bestimmung der Katalase. Bio-chem. Z 232:20
    [Google Scholar]
  7. Fulton J. D., Spooner D. F. 1956; The metabolism of Leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae in vitro. Exp. Parasit 5:154
    [Google Scholar]
  8. Herbert D. 1955; Catalase from bacteria (Micrococcus lysodeikticus). In Methods in Enzymology Colowick S. P., Kalpan N. O. Ed. II p. 784 New York: Academic Press Inc;
    [Google Scholar]
  9. Kirschner L., Graham L. 1959; Growth, purification and maintenance of leptospira on solid medium. Brit. J. exp. Path 40:57
    [Google Scholar]
  10. Lawrence J. J. 1955; The lysis of leptospires by antiserum. Aust. J. exp. Biol, med. Sci 33:91
    [Google Scholar]
http://instance.metastore.ingenta.com/content/journal/micro/10.1099/00221287-22-1-1
Loading
/content/journal/micro/10.1099/00221287-22-1-1
Loading

Data & Media loading...

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error