Antigenic variation and increase in pathogenicity in Pseudomonas aeruginosa as a result of growth on glucose or N-hexadecane as sole carbon source.

When Pseudomonas aeruginosa is grown on glucose as opposed to n-hexadecane as the sole carbon source, the antigenicity, virulence, and protein composition of the outer membrane are altered. The hydrocarbon-grown cells demonstrate a 3-log increase in virulence over the glucose-grown cells (in mice). There also appears to be an additional protein present in the outer membrane of the n-hexadecane-grown cells. This protein may contribute to the observed antigenic differences between the two cell types.