OBSERVATIONS ON THE METABOLISM OF A STRAIN OF NEISSERIA CATARRHALIS

Abstract

The nutritional requirements and some of the metabolic activities of N. catarrhalis (A. T. C. C. 7900) were investigated. Frantz medium (glutamic acid, cystine, glucose and inorganic salts) did not support growth. Good growth resulted when casein hydrolysate or a chemically defined amino acid mixture was sub-stituted for the glutamic acid in the Frantz medium. Added glucose increased growth apparently without being utilized. The amino acid media were metabolized, resulting in a rise of pH, an increase in ammonia N, and the formation of so-called "keto-acid." DL-glutamic acid and DL-alanine were metabolized aerobically by washed cells with an accompanying liberation of ammonia, CO2, and "keto-acid.".