CHOLINE FERMENTATION BY DESULFOVIBRIO DESULFURICANS

Abstract

Baker , F. D. (Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio), H. R. Papiska, and L. Leon Campbell . Choline fermentation by Desulfovibrio desulfuricans . J. Bacteriol. 84: 973–978. 1962—Hayward and Stadtman pointed out that the organism they described as Vibrio cholinicus is closely related to Desulfovibrio desulfuricans . We have established that some strains of D. desulfuricans carry out the same fermentation of choline as does V. cholinicus . We have also shown that V. cholinicus carries out the sulfate-linked fermentation of lactate identical with that of D. desulfuricans . Both organisms have identical reduced cytochrome spectra, with peaks at 417 to 420, 525, and 553 mμ. V. cholinicus also contains the green pigment desulfoviridin, characteristic of D. desulfuricans , which in alkaline solution gives a red fluorescence at 365 mμ. Immunological data from cross-agglutination and absorption tests show that the two organisms have similar antigenic properties. Morphological, cultural, and biochemical studies have also demonstrated that V. cholinicus is indistinguishable from D. desulfuricans . Therefore, V. cholinicus should be regarded taxonomically as a strain of D. desulfuricans .