Effects of Bicarbonate on Growth of Pasteurella Pestis. I. Differential Response of Virulent and Avirulent Cells.

Surgalla, M. J. (Fort Detrick, Frederick, Md.), A. W. Andrews, and C. L. Baugh. Effects of bicarbonate on growth of Pasteurella pestis. I. Differential response of virulent and avirulent cells. J. Bacteriol. 88:269-272. 1964.-Virulent Pasteurella pestis and the avirulent mutants always present in a virulent inoculum have been demonstrated to give growth responses in opposite directions upon addition of bicarbonate to broth cultures under certain conditions. The effect of supplemental bicarbonate on initiation of growth from a virulent inoculum was found to be either stimulation of both virulent and avirulent cells at low levels of added bicarbonate, depression of both virulent and avirulent cells at higher initial concentrations, or depression of avirulent mutants with simultaneous stimulation of virulent cells at a narrow range of intermediate levels.