Growth and hemolysin production by Haemophilus pleuropneumoniae cultivated in a chemically defined medium.

A chemically defined medium (CDM) has been developed which supports both growth and hemolysin production by Haemophilus pleuropneumoniae. Although the growth rate in stationary cultures was substantially slower in CDM than in trypticase soy broth plus 0.6% yeast extract (TSBYE) and slightly slower than in heart infusion broth (HIB), extracellular hemolysin activity in CDM was slightly higher than in HIB and 16-fold greater than in TSBYE. Maximum hemolytic activity was produced in CDM in early to mid log phase of growth. Hemolytic activity in sterile, cell-free culture supernatant fluids persisted for over 10 days at 4 degrees C and 3-5 days at 37 degrees C, but was completely destroyed at 56 degrees C after 30 min. Total hemolysin inactivation was also achieved in the presence of trypsin or pronase (10 units/mL), but no decrease in hemolytic activity was noted in the presence of DNase or RNase. Iron had little effect on the hemolytic activity in the early stages of growth. However, in the later stages of growth, iron had a pronounced effect with hemolytic activity decreasing as the iron concentration increased from 1 to 500 microM. None of these iron concentrations had any effect on the hemolytic activity when added directly to prepared cell-free culture supernatant fluids. The extracellular hemolysin produced by H. pleuropneumoniae in CDM appears to be a heat-labile protein the activity of which is influenced by iron at certain phases of growth.

Isolation, purification, and partial characterization of a lipopolysaccharide from Haemophilus pleuropneumoniae.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Haemophilus pleuropneumoniae 1536, serotype 2, was isolated and purified by a procedure designed to be equally satisfactory for both smooth- and rough-type LPS. The LPS yield was 53%. Analysis of the preparations revealed that protein, nucleic acid, and cellular phospholipid contamination was negligible (less than 0.1%). Analysis of the sugar content of the LPS by gas-liquid chromatography and colorimetric analysis revealed the presence of rhamnose, mannose, galactose, glucose, heptose, glucosamine, galactosamine, and 3-deoxy-D-manno-2-octulosonic acid. The heptose and glucose contents appeared to be unusually high. The fatty acids of the LPS consisted of a mixture of C14:0 and C16:0 in a ratio of about 4.5:1 (50% of the total) and 3-hydroxy C14:0. When used as a preparatory dose for the dermal Shwartzman reaction, as little as 10 micrograms of the LPS injected intradermally in rabbits produced reddening and swelling. After intravenous injection of a 100-micrograms LPS provoking dose, necrosis was observed at all intradermal injection sites. Limulus amebocyte lysate gelation was observed with an LPS concentration as low as 0.5 ng/ml. A typical biphasic fever response was noted in rabbits injected with as little as 0.25 ng of LPS per kg of body weight.

Siderophore production by Proteus mirabilis.

Studies on the isolation and characterization of Proteus mirabilis siderophores provided no evidence that these bacteria synthesize catechol- or hydroxamate-type siderophores. However, gas chromatograph analysis in conjunction with mass spectroscopy revealed the presence of alpha-hydroxyisovaleric acid, a previously unknown metabolite. Additional substantiating evidence for the presence of alpha-hydroxyisovaleric acid in these bacteria was obtained from experiments involving the use of thin-layer chromatography and an ultraviolet absorption spectrum. This compound was found to be capable of removing iron from the synthetic chelator, ethylene-diamine-di-orthohydroxyphenyl acetic acid, and supplying that iron to the bacteria both in a solid agar medium and in a liquid medium. Proteus mirabilis was found to possess an enzyme capable of catalyzing the reaction by which alpha-hydroxyisovaleric acid is converted to alpha-ketoisovaleric acid, an intermediate in the valine biosynthetic pathway.