Glutamine as a Growth Factor for Certain Strains of Neisseria Gonorrhoeae

Abstract

The base media employed were Proteose No. 3[long dash]hemoglobin, agar (Bacto) and Proteose No. 3[long dash]starch sugar. On these media growth of "normal" strains of gonococcus is rapid and moderately heavy; fastidious strains usually fail to produce any visible growth at 48 hrs. unless filtered extracts of yeast, liver or other tissues are added. Ability of glutamine (SMACO) to replace these extracts was tested by adding sterile solns. of it to the base medium. All fastidious strains grew rapidly and luxuriantly in its presence. The optimum conc. of glutamine for the majority of strains tested is 1-2 mg. %; detectable growth may occur with as little as 0.01 mg. %. Autoclaving the glutamine for 10 min. at 15 lbs. greatly reduces its activity, as is also the case with yeast extract. The specificity of glutamine is emphasized by the failure to substitute glutamic acid or glutathione. It seems probable, therefore, that these exacting strains are unable to replace the labile amide group of glutamine.