Nitrite-induced Germination of Putrefactive Anaerobe 3679h Spores

Abstract

Sodium nitrite alone has been shown to stimulate germination of PA 3679h spores. The process was accelerated by using increased concentrations of sodium nitrite, a low p H, and a high temperature of incubation. At low concentrations of nitrite (0.01 to 0.2%), the delay of 36 to 48 hr occurred before germination commenced at 37 C. However, with 3.45% nitrite at 45 C and p H 6.0, most of the spores germinated within 1 hr. At p H 7.0, the germination rate decreased markedly, and at p H 8.0 it was nil. The greatest acceleration in germination rate occurred near 60 C. Hydroxylamine was completely inhibitory to nitrite-induced germination. Sodium nitrite, in turn, inhibited germination by l -alanine, the degree of inhibition being influenced by nitrite concentration and p H.