STUDIES ON THE METABOLISM OF VIRULENT AND AVIRULENT MYCOBACTERIA

Abstract

Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv and H37Ra have a generation time of approx. 24 hrs. in the Proskauer and Beck(P and B) medium. In this medium containing 10% bovine serum, the generation time (g) is approx. 15 hrs., indicating a stimulatory response. Plasma fractions, including proantithrombin, fraction V, antifibrinolysin, and crystalline albumin, all accelerated the generation time of H37Rv. Fractions II, III-1, IV-1, IV-3, 4, prothrombin, and bovine plasma ultra-filtrate have no significant effect on the (g) time of H37Rv. Fibrinolysin and fibrinogen show some inhibitory action. Ribo-flavin, vitamin B12, choline, p-aminobenzoic acid, and panto-thenic acid have no effect on H37Ra and H37Rv. High concns. of thiamin, i-inositol, niacin, niacinamide, and coenzyme I are inhibitory to both strains. In general, the avirulent strains were found to be more metabolically deficient than the virulent H37Rv.