ABSTRACT
Nocardia polychromogenes (saprophytic) and Nocardia asteroides (pathogenic) showed characteristic patterns in changes of cellular lipids during growth. Total lipids and total phospholipids decreased with the age of the culture in the saprophytic strain, whereas in the pathogenic strain total lipids increased throughout the culture period and the total phospholipids decreased in the late stationary phase. The decrease in total phospholipids in saprophytic strain was reflected in the individual phosphatides. In the pathogenic strain, the phosphatidylinositomannoside content doubled in early stationary phase. Differences were observed in fatty acid composition of phosphatides at various stages of growth, but the ratio of saturated to unsaturated fatty acids remained unaltered.
Subject(s)
Nocardia asteroides/growth & development , Nocardia/growth & development , Phospholipids/metabolism , Nocardia/metabolism , Nocardia asteroides/metabolism , Species SpecificityABSTRACT
The rates of synthesis and breakdown of phospholipids in growing of Nocardia polychromogenes were investigated by means of a pulse-labelling technique using 32PO4(3)-. The results indicated that phospholipids were broken down and phosphatidylinositol mannosides had a high turnover rate. The other two main components, cardiolipin and phosphatidylethanolamine, had a relatively low rate of turnover.
Subject(s)
Nocardia/metabolism , Phospholipids/metabolism , Phosphates/metabolism , Phospholipids/biosynthesis , Time FactorsABSTRACT
Live Nocardia asteroides injected intraperitoneally into guinea pigs produced antibodies to phospholipids of Nocardia whereas antibodies were not detected in animals injected with heat-killed N. asteroides. The antibody titer was found to be related with the degree of infection; a significant decrease was noted after sulfadiazine treatment suggesting that antibodies were produced in response to an increasing bacterial load that occurred as the infection progressed.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Bacterial/biosynthesis , Nocardia Infections/immunology , Nocardia asteroides/immunology , Phospholipids/immunology , Animals , Guinea Pigs , Hot Temperature , Nocardia Infections/drug therapy , Sulfadiazine/therapeutic useABSTRACT
The major phospholipid classes of Nocardia polychromogenes were quantitated at different stages of the growth cycle. Significant differences were observed both in the total lipid phosphorus per g (dry weight) of cells, and in the relative percentages of individual phospholipids. The total amount of lipid-phosphorus increased throughout the growth cycle. Cardiolipin and phosphoinositides contents increased with significant decrease in phosphatidyl ethanolamine and unknown phospholipids.
