THE VIRULENCE OF PURINE-AUXOTROPHS OF BACILLUS ANTHRACIS

Abstract

A considerable difference exists between the virulences of purine auxotrophs of Bacillus anthracis due to the site of block in the purine biosynthetic pathway. All strains in which the block were situated in front on inosylic acid (hy-auxotrophs) or in the conversion of zanthylic acid to guanylic acid (gu-auxotrophs) were proved to be virulent. Contrary, adenine auxotrophs in their phenotype appeared completely avirulent. Inoculated in mice, multiplication does not result even if the animals are repeatedly treated with subtoxic amounts of adenine. The conditions for multiplication in vitro and in vivo are apparently different in these mutants. It may be assumed that the two enzymes involved in the conversion of inosynic acid to adenylic acid (adenylsuccinate-synthase and adenyl-succinase), or one of them, also play a role in the synthesis of such cell components that are indispensable for in vivo multiplication.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1966
Accession Number
AD0833635

Entities

People

  • Elizabeth Marjai
  • G. Ivanovics

Organizations

  • United States Army Biological Warfare Laboratories

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Adenine
  • Amino Acids
  • Bacteria
  • Bacteriology
  • Cellular Structures
  • Conversion
  • Export Controls
  • Genetics
  • German Language
  • Infection
  • Lethal Dosage
  • Materials
  • Phenotypes
  • Purines
  • United States
  • Virulence
  • Wound Infections

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

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