SOME EFFECTS OF HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE ON THE MULTIPLICATION AND MORPHOLOGY OF MARINE BACTERIA

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Stainless steel vessels, valves, connections, and technics are described for studying the effects of hydrostatic pressures up to 2D00 atmospheres on bacteria. Of 56 spp. of marine bacteria tested at 30[degree] C, 20 failed to multiply at 200 atm., 35 failed to multiply at 400 atm., and 48 failed to multiply at 600 atm. Twelve of the 56 were killed after 4 days'' incubation at 400 atm. and 33 were killed at 600 atm. Bacteria that are inhibited by high pressures are designated barophobic, whereas those that tolerate deep-sea pressure are designated barophilic. Certain barophilic species grow (increase in length) with very little reproduction (cell division) in nutrient medium incubated at high pressures. The effects of pressure on bacteria appear to be influenced by the species, growth phase, composition of culture medium, time, and temp. In general, bacteria tolerate higher pressures at higher temps. Within the ranges occurring in the sea, hydrostatic pressure appears to be a thermodynamic factor of coordinate importance with temp, in affecting the distribution, multiplication, physiological activities, and death of bacteria.

This publication has 13 references indexed in Scilit: