DETECTION OF SPECIFIC LIPIDS IN MYCOBACTERIA BY INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY

Abstract
Comparisons were made of the lipids of 72 strains of mycobacteria including virulent and avirulent strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and M. bovis. Other strains studied were M. avium, M. phlei, M. smegmatis and representatives of the atypical acid-fast group. The cultures were grown on synthetic medium and extracted with ether-ethanol. The lipids were separated by chromatography on Mg silicate-Celite and were identified by means of their infrared absorption spectra. This study has permitted the recognition of 5 lipid substances which are characteristic for the type of organism from which they were isolated. Chemical studies in progress indicate that 2 of these substances are glycolipids and 2 are glycolipid peptides.