DETERMINING DRUG SENSITIVITY—Use of the Gel Diffusion Method

A study was carried out to determine whether the double diffusion gel test when applied to the serum of patients with clear-cut penicillin reactions of various types, might be useful for demonstrating the presence of precipitating antibody. Results did not demonstrate the antibody.The difference in results with this test obtained by various workers was not explained by the observations in this study.Other approaches to determination of the mechanism of the penicillin reaction are discussed, and it is noted that the hemagglutination test, newly applied to the penicillin reaction problem, may be useful after further investigation.     

On the formation of adipocere from fats

Summary The formation of adipocere is a process occurring under virtually anaerobic conditions in which human fat is converted into a complex of saturated fatty acids by a great variety of bacterial species occurring in and on the decomposing body.     

SOME FEATURES OF A REMARKABLE ORGANELLE IN BACILLUS SUBTILIS

In thin sections of Bacillus subtilis certain organelles are observed situated either in the nuclear area from where they can extend into the cytoplasm, or in contact with the cell wall. Inside the nuclear area, the organelle is sometimes composed of concentric layers each seen to consist of two dense borders with a lighter interspace. In other instances, inside as well as outside the nuclear area, the organelles appear as clusters of delicately delimited vesicles. A typical site of occurrence is on the inner rim of the centripetally developing transverse septa, where it appears as a so called peripheral body (2). The micrographs strongly suggest that when the organelles are attached to the walls they have a function in cell wall formation.     

Studies on the metabolism ofAcetobacter peroxydans

Summary Some physiological and biochemical properties of several strains ofAcetobacter peroxydans have been studied. Their morphology, the aspects of growth on beer-gelatine slants and the colony type are described. The cells are catalase negative and acid resistant. The temperature optimum is 20–25°C. They grow readily on ethanol and on lactate, or on yeast extract alone, but not on carbohydrates and derivatives. They do not consume or oxidize glucose or gluconate. They are overoxidizers. None of these strains was able to grow as hydrogen bacteria. Resting cells oxidize lactate, pyruvate, ethanol, acetate, some Krebs cycle intermediates and several alcohols. Cell-free extracts oxidize glucose-6-phosphate, 6-phosphogluconate and ribose-5-phosphate in suitable conditions. These results favour the taxonomic position of this species as a member of the genusAcetobacter. The results are discussed.     

Role of Leuconostoc mesenteroides in Leavening the Batter of Idli, a Fermented Food of India

The fermentation of the batter of idli, a fermented food of India, was studied. The microorganisms responsible for the characteristic changes in the batter were isolated and identified. Although there is a sequential change in the bacterial flora, the predominant microorganism responsible for souring, as well as for gas production, was found to be Leuconostoc mesenteroides. In the later stages of fermentation, growth of Streptococcus faecalis and, still later, of Pediococcus cerevisiae becomes significant. The fermentation of idli demonstrates a leavening action caused by the activity of the heterofermentative lactic acid bacterium, L. mesenteroides. As far as is known, this is the first record of a leavening action produced exclusively by the activity of a lactic acid bacterium.     

Isolation and properties of polyribosomes and fragments of the endoplasmic reticulum from rat liver

1. A centrifugation method for the fractionation of the postmitochondrial fraction from rat-liver homogenates is described. The technique, in which no detergent is used, may be used as a tool to discriminate between two classes of ribosomes. One class is firmly bound to membranes and the other consists either of free polysomes or of ribosomes attached by weaker forces to the membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum. 2. Electron-micrograph studies revealed that the polysomes were not contaminated with bound ribosomes or with membranous fragments. 3. The separated fractions were characterized by their RNA, protein, ribonuclease and phospholipid content. 4. The influence of starvation on the RNA and protein contents of the different fractions was investigated. 5. Labelling of the various centrifugal fractions in vivo revealed no difference in uptake of radioactive amino acid between the two classes of ribosomes. 6. Incorporation of radioactive leucine in vitro and the polyuridylic acid-directed phenylalanine incorporation were similar for both classes of ribosomes.