THE EFFECT OF BENZOIC ACID AND RELATED COMPOUNDS ON THE GROWTH OF CERTAIN MYCOBACTERIA

Abstract

A non-pathogenic strain of mycobacteria can utilize for growth benzoic, m- or p-hydroxybenzoic acids as sole sources of C but not o-hydroxybenzoic acid. This corresponds to the ability of these-bacteria to oxidize these compounds. The tubercle bacillus only oxidizes benzoic and o-hydroxybenzoic acids but these compounds cannot act as sole sources of C. The H37 strain grows on Long''s synthetic media with or without asparagin and is able to oxidize and demainate asparagin. The B1 strain used does not grow on synthetic media and is unable to oxidize asparagin.