Synthesis of enterotoxin B by Staphylococcus aureus strain S6 after recovery from heat injury

Abstract

After sublethal heat treatment of Staphylococcus aureus S6 at 52C for 15 min in either 0.1 M sodium phosphate (Na cells) or 0.1 M potassium phosphate (K cells), more than 99% of the cells were unable to grow on a medium containing 7.5% NaCl. When placed in H and K medium the survivors recovered their salt tolerance and grew after a lag of 3 h (Na cells) or 5 h (K cells). In the absence of glucose, the total amount of enterotoxin B synthesized by the Na and K cells was similar to the control cells. Addition of 0.1% glucose to the medium increased the total amount of toxin formed by Na, K, and control cells.