This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Zwarun, A. A. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Zwarun, A. A. Agricola Articles by Zwarun, A. A.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Appl Environ Microbiol. 1973 April; 25(4): 589-591
Copyright © 1973 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Effect of Osmotic Stabilizers on ¹⁴CO₂ Production by Bacteria and Blood

¹ Johnston Laboratories, Inc., Cockeysville, Maryland 21030

ABSTRACT

Evolution of ¹⁴CO₂ by whole blood as well as by Diplococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus sp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas diminuta, and Streptococcus pyogenes was examined by using the BACTEC system. The control medium was JLI no. 6A culture vial containing 30 ml of enriched tryptic soy broth and 1.5 µCi of ¹⁴C-substrate. Hypertonic media consisted of control medium with either 1 or 3% NaCl, 10% sucrose, and 5%, 10%, or 15% dextran. The most deleterious treatment to bacteria was 3% NaCl since it not only retarded ¹⁴CO₂ production, but also prevented growth of D. pneumoniae, Haemophilus, and P. diminuta. The 10% sucrose treatment diminished ¹⁴CO₂ output, although it did not retard growth of test organisms. This effect was probably due to ¹⁴C-substrate dilution rather than to osmotic effects. Dextran had slight effect on ¹⁴CO₂ production and slightly acidified the medium. Of the treatments tested, only 10% sucrose reduced normal output of ¹⁴CO₂ by whole blood. This also is probably due to ¹⁴C-substrate dilution. It appears that 10% sucrose is potentially the most useful osmotic agent for radiometric techniques since, although bacterial ¹⁴CO₂ production is lowered, blood ¹⁴CO₂ is lowered also.