EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE, HUMIDITY AND EXPOSURE TO OXYGEN ON THE SURVIVAL OF ANAEROBIC BACTERIA

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The relative effect of humidity, temperature and O2 exposure on the survival of 11 strains of Bacteroides spp., Fusobacterium necrophorum, Eubacterium lentum, Clostridium ramosum, Peptococcus asaccharolyticus and Peptostreptococcus anaerobius was evaluated. Suspensions of the test strains were applied to membrane filters either in empty sterile petri dishes or on plates of non-nutrient agar to provide dry or moist conditions. The filters were stored aerobically or anaerobically in an atmosphere containing 10% CO2 at 4.degree. or 35.degree. C. After holding periods of 0.375-384 h, the filters were transferred to nutrient plates inside an anaerobic glove box. After incubation the growth on the filters was compared with that on control filters that were not stored. Survival was better at 4.degree. C than at 35.degree. C. For the gram-negative organisms, survival was better under moist than under dry conditions; for gram-positive organisms this finding was sometimes reversed. Apparently, anaerobic bacteria kept under aerobic conditions generally survive best under moist conditions at 4.degree. C.

This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit: