Use of an ammonia electrode to study bacterial deamination of amino acids with special reference tod-asparagine breakdown by campylobacters

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Abstract
Summary: A method using an ammonia electrode is being developed for investigating the deamination of amino acids and amides by bacteria. Application of this method toCampylobacter jejuniandC. colihas led to the demonstration ofd-asparaginase activity in some strains. This has allowed the subdivision of both species intod-asparaginase-positive and -negative biotypes. Even though the method is in the developmental stage, it was found to be generally reproducible and easy to perform. Areas for further improving the procedure have been identified. The ammonia electrode offers the theoretical possibility of investigating the breakdown of any amino acid by bacteria. It thus opens up a new and practical approach for separating species and strains, particularly in those bacterial groups that are difficult to subdivide by conventional means.