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Abstract
Several mutants isolated from three Klebsiella aerogenes strains showed characteristics differentiating them from the wild type and also from the normal type of non-mucoid mutants. These mutants synthesize much less polysaccharide slime or capsule than the parent bacteria at low incubation temperature, but similar amounts at 37°. The colonies are of rough appearance at 20° and liquid cultures at this temperature autoagglutinate. At 37°, mutant and parental types are indistinguishable. The mutants show altered phage sensitivity patterns at 20° and the yield of lipopolysaccharide appears to be decreased at lower temperatures. Double mutants retaining certain of these characteristics but devoid of exopolysaccharide-synthesizing activity have also been isolated. The properties of the parent and mutant types are compared.
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