Chitinolysis by Serratiae Including Serratia liquefaciens (Enterobacter liquefaciens)

Abstract

Forty-six strains of serratiae, including 10 strains of Serratia liquefaciens (syn.: Enterobacter liquefaciens) hydrolyzed chitin in a chitin-salts-Casamino Acids agar medium. Strains which were tested on chitin-salts agar were able to use chitin as a sole source of carbon, nitrogen, and energy. None of the other members of the family Enterobacteriaceae studied produced chitinase. The ability to hydrolyze chitin may be a useful characteristic in differentiating serratiae from other Enterobacteriaceae. However, many more strains will have to be tested for chitinase synthesis before the usefulness of the test can be determined.