Further Studies on the Effects of Spleen Extract on Bacteria

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
An alcoholic precipitated extract of beef spleen was tested for its activity on the in vitro growth of a number of organisms including Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Pneumococcus, Type VII, certain of the colon-typhoid-dysentery group and the tubercle bacillus. With Str. pyo-genes it was found that concs. of the extract above 0.05% and ranging from 0.1%-l% were germicidal to this organism, while 0.05% allowed growth but produced morphologic differences and perhaps changes in the biochemistry of the organism. S. aureus, on the other hand, reacted to all concs. by an initial period of depressed growth followed later by stimulation. Coincident with stimulation, the original orange organism was transformed to a white type which was unstable and remained white only after frequent cultures and subcultures in media containing the extract. The growth of the pneumococcus was unaffected by the extract. The colon-typhoid-dysentery group reacted to the extract with increased growth and changes in the size and shape of the organism. The tubercle bacillus was inhibited in its growth by the extract.

This publication has 6 references indexed in Scilit: