Abstract
Esterases of 62 S. marcescens, S. liquefacicens, S. plymuthica and S. marinorubra strains were analyzed by horizontal slab electrophoresis in polyacrylamide-agarose gel. Five principal bands hydrolyzed .beta.-naphthyl acetate but differed in their range of activity towards other substrates andin their sensitivity of di-isofluoropropyl phosphate. Additional bands were detected in some strains of S. marcescens and S. marinorubra. The comparative distribution of bands showed that the 4 Serratia spp. were characterized by distinct electrophoretic patterns of their esterases. S. marcescens, S. liquefaciens and S. plymuthica appeared to be more closely related to one another than to S. marinorubra. In the case of S. plymuthica and S. marinorubra, congruence was found between biovars and esterase patterns. The numerous electrophoretypes observed within Serratia spp. might provide useful epidemiological markers.

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