Taxonomic studies of two species of Peptococci and inhibition of Peptostreptococcus anaerobius by sodium polyanethol sulfonate

Three problems associated with the taxonomy and growth of anaerobic cocci belonging to the genera Peptococcus and Peptostreptococcus were studied. One study involved the designation of the neotype strain of Peptococcus niger, the type species of the genus Peptococcus. The type strain had been lost, and there were no extant ·strains of this taxonomically important species. Several strains of anaerobic cocci isolated from the navels of several human subjects were found to be identical with the original description of Peptococcus niger. Therefore, an amended description of this species was published. Another study involved the taxonomic status of Peptococcus anaerobius. A search of the early descriptions of Peptococcus anaerobius revealed that the original description of the species was probably based on descriptions of several different anaerobic cocci. Consequently, a request has been made of the Judicial Commission of the International Committee on Systematic Bacteriology to reject the name Peptococcus anaerobius as a nomen confusum. A third study involved the inhibition of growth of Peptostreptococcus anaerobius by sodium polyanethol sulfonate (SPS). Gelatin and protease peptone were found to protect Peptostreptococcus anaerobius from inhibition of growth by SPS, and, therefore, are useful additions to blood culture media for the purpose of enhancing isolation of Peptostreptococcus anaerobius from blood cultures. Numerous strains of other anaerobic cocci were also tested for sensitivity to SPS.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Microbiology

Department dc:contributor.department

Microbiology

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Year dc:date.issued

1977

Author dc:creator

• West, Susan Emily Holt

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10919/76139

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/76139