Diphthericin types, bacteriophage types and serotypes ofCorynebacterium diphtheriaestrains isolated in Australia

Abstract

A dipthericin typing scheme has been constructed using 441 strains ofCorynebacterium diptheriaeisolated in eastern Australia from 1962 to 1971. Ten types have been distinguished using seven strains ofC. diphtheriaeand two strains ofC. belfantias indicators of the diphthericins produced by the newly isolated strains. Strains grouped into types L2, L3 and L3awere found only in Melbourne and types L1 and L4 were predominant in Sydney. Type L5 strains were isolated intermittently throughout the period of study and were found in all eastern states. Numerical analysis of the characteristics of the strains suggests that associations exist between, on the one hand, diphthericin type and, on the other hand, bacteriophage type, serotype and biochemical activity.