Cholesterol in the Growth of Organisms of the Pleuropneumonia Group

Abstract

SUMMARY: Representative strains of the pleuropneumonia group, originally isolated from animals, grew well on a basal medium containing infusion broth, peptone, yeast extract and agar when this was further enriched with horse serum. The serum could be replaced by an ethereal extract of egg-yolk and fractionation of this suggested that cholesterol might be the active substance promoting growth. Growth was obtained when cholesterol (0.01 mg./ml.) was added to the basal medium, together with starch or bovine albumin. Addition of the acetone-insoluble fraction of egg-yolk with cholesterol gave better results, growth of six of the eight strains tested being equal to that on serum agar; the lecithin and kephalin fractions after purification were less effective. No growth was obtained when starch, bovine albumin or the acetone-insoluble lipid was added to the medium without cholesterol. Cholestanol and stigmasterol were as effective as cholesterol in promoting growth. Oleic acid in high concentrations (> 0.05 mg./ml.) inhibited growth. Both lipid and protein fractions of serum appeared to be concerned in its ability to promote growth.