The Adsorption of Cetyltrimethylammonium Bromide by Bacteria, its Action in Releasing Cellular Constituents and its Bactericidal Effects

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Abstract
The effect of the cation detergent CTAB on Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus vulgaris. Streptococcus faecalis. Bacillus pumilus, Escherichia coll. and Salmonella pullorum was studied, the release of cellular constituents being estimated by chemical analyses, paper chromatography, and u.-v. absorption spectra. All 6 organisms showed a varying but uniformly high affinity for CTAB. There is an initial leakage of cell solutes before autolytic breakdown, death being due to this as well as to the inhibition of sensitive enzymes, and cytological damage. The rate of leakage increased with temp, and concn. of CTAB.