STUDIES ON THE CATALASE ACTIVITY OF ACID-FAST BACILLI .1. ATTEMPT TO SUBGROUP THESE ORGANISMS ON THE BASIS OF THEIR CATALASE ACTIVITIES AT DIFFERENT TEMPERATURES AND PH

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Abstract
The catalase activity of 100 stock and recently isolated wild strains of acid-fast bacilli was determined at room temperature and at 68[degree]C. With the exception of 4 isoniazid-resistant human strains, all cultures exhibited positive catalase activity at room temperature. The catalase enzyme of human and bovine strains (regardless of virulence) was inactivated by suspending the cultures in a phosphate buffer of pH 7 which was then held in a 68[degree]C water bath for 20 minutes. All other cultures tested retained their catalase activity under these conditions. Pending further studies on wild strains, this modified catalase test may prove useful as a means of subgrouping the acid-fast bacilli.