Electron capture gas-liquid chromatographic-mass spectral identification of acids produced by Neisseria meningitidis in a defined medium

Abstract

The acid metabolites and the cellular fatty acids of 3 strains of N. meningitidis grown in a chemically defined liquid medium were determined with computerized frequency-pulsed electron capture GLC. Five acids not previously reported were subsequently identified: isobutyric, octanoic, decenoic (C10:1), dodecenoic (C12:1) and tetradecenoic (C14:1). These acids were produced during active metabolism and were not detected as cellular constituents. The frequency-pulsed electron capture GLC methods provide a rapid, reliable, sensitive means of detecting these and other metabolic and cellular acids in spent culture medium.