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 Similar articles in PubMed 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 HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Flowers, R S Articles by Ordal, Z J Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Flowers, R S Articles by Ordal, Z J Agricola Articles by Flowers, R S Articles by Ordal, Z J

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Appl Environ Microbiol. 1977 May; 33(5): 1112-1117

Catalase and enumeration of stressed Staphylococcus aureus cells.

ABSTRACT

The effects of catalase on the enumeration of stressed (heated, reduced water activity, or freeze-dried) Staphylococcus aureus cells on several selective media were examined. The addition of catalase greatly increased the enumeration of stressed cells. The beneficial effects of catalase were most pronounced on those media least efficient in enumeration of stressed staphylococci, showing increases in enumeration of up to 1,100-fold. The effects of catalase appear to be due to the reduced ability of stressed cells to repair and form colonies in the absence of an exogenous decomposer of H2O2. Thermally stressed cells were more sensitive to H2O2 than unstressed cells. During recovery, stressed cells overcame the requirement for catalase. These findings implicate H2O2 as a factor in the failure of certain selective media to adequately enumerate stressed cells and demonstrate that the addition of catalase to these media markedly increases their productivity.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Genest, P. C., Setlow, B., Melly, E., Setlow, P. (2002). Killing of spores of Bacillus subtilis by peroxynitrite appears to be caused by membrane damage. Microbiology 148: 307-314 [Abstract] [Full Text]