| Abstract: | Cultures of Neisseria meningitidis Bc5S No. 125 with continuous and synchronous cell fission have been obtained. The synchronization index is 0.59-0.63. The synthesis of protein at different periods of the synchronized cycle occurs at constant speed. The synthesis of RNA and DNA is periodical, the maximum accumulation of DNA occurring at the period prior to cell fission. The amount of polysaccharide in the whole culture and the cells is considerably greater than in the supernatant fluid. At the period of fission the content of polysaccharide per 1 billion cells decreases. The indices characterizing the increase of biomass, the synthesis of macromolecular compositions and polysaccharide, the titers of the reaction of agglutination remain unchanged during the whole period of cultivation, which is indicative of the stability of the continuous and synchronous process. The use of this process holds considerable promise for obtaining N. meningitidis synchronized cultures in large amounts, for the study of the biological properties of meningococci and for obtaining immunoprophylactic preparations. |
