Bacillin Production by Soil Isolates

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
46 pasteurized soil suspensions were examined for bacilli antagonistic to Escherichia coli. 23 soil samples from 15 States yielded 46 isolates which demonstrated this property. The active material was relatively heat-stable but was totally inactivated by H2S. The antibacterial activity was greatly reduced in complex media such as brain heart infusion. It was not ex-tractable with organic solvents but could be adsorbed on various activated carbons and partially eluted with aqueous ethanol. The wide antibacterial spectrum and the foregoing properties indicate an identity with bacillin (Foster and Woodruff, Jour. Bad. 51: 363). Adsorption on the cation resin "ionac C284", followed by elution with dilute aqueous pyridine gave a 50-fold increase in potency and was the most satisfactory procedure for preliminary purification. Further measures were ineffectual and lyophilization of concentrates usually resulted in a marked loss in activity. The widespread occurrence of this organism and the marked antagonistic properties in the absence of complex nutrients suggest that it may have a role in controlling the microbial flora of the soil.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: