The Application of Bacteriophage and Serology in the Differentiation of Strains of Leuconostoc mesenteroides

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The four groups of L. mesenteroides, previously described by Faville and designated A, B, D, and F, were studied to determine their homogenicity. Precipitin tests, using antisera and antigen extracts prepd. according to the procedure of Lancefield, were carried out on 29 strains. Extracts of type A gave precipitin tests only with A sera. The other types were heterogeneous. Agglutination tests, using the same sera in 4 dilutions, proved the most useful in showing type relationships. Although there was cross agglutination, Type A was evidently quite homogeneous. Agglutinin absorption tests confirmed this. Five bacteriophages, isolated from "mud" from a sugar house, were tested for plaque formation with the homologous organism, and all other strains. The lytic activity was determined by the spot plate method. Each phage tested was largely type specific. Only 2 out of 105 strains were lysed by a phage from outside the type.

This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit: