THE USE OF METHYLENE BLUE REDUCTION FOR IN VITRO DETERMINATION OF PASTEURELLA PESTIS VIRULENCE,
Abstract
An attempt was made to use the methylene blue reduction by Past. pestis to differentiate in vitro the virulent strains from avirulent ones. A study was made of 25 Past. pestis strains; out of this number 10 were virulent and 15 avirulent. Avirulent strains were obtained by numerous transfers on streak slant agar at 37C. Comparison of reducing properties of avirulent and virulent strains demonstrated that the latter decolourized methylene blue much more slowly, and that this sign could be use for rapid determination in vitro of the virulent state of the strain. Avirulent Past. pestis variants, forming smooth colonies, decolourized the strain very slowly or not at all; this was connected with their biological peculiarities, i.e. weaker enzyme systems and bacteriophage infection. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1964
- Accession Number
- AD0617073
Entities
People
- E. I. Korobkova
- I. V. Liskina
Organizations
- United States Army Biological Warfare Laboratories