Comparison of Fatty Acid, Protein, and Serological Properties Distinguishing Outer Membranes of Pseudomonas anguilliseptica Strains from Those of Fish Pathogens and Other Pseudomonads

Abstract

Whole-cell fatty acid analyses of 79 Pseudomonas anguilliseptica strains demonstrated that all 79 strains were closely related and were distinct from other pseudomonads whose fatty acid profiles were reported previously. Outer membranes were isolated from seven representative strains, and the protein patterns were compared by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Four major outer membrane proteins were found in each of the P. anguilliseptica strains but not in the outer membranes of 8 other Pseudomonas strains or 10 other fish pathogens. The outer membranes of the seven P. anguilliseptica strains studied were immunologically cross-reactive. We suggest that outer membrane protein patterns may be a useful taxonomic tool.