Biochemical and Physiological Characterization of Colony Form Variants in Xenorhabdus spp. (Enterobacteriaceae)

• Published in: Journal of general microbiology Vol. 134; no. 3; pp. 751 - 761
• Main Authors: BOEMARE, N. E, AKHURST, R. J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Soc General Microbiol 1988; New York, NY Cambridge University Press; Society for General Microbiology, (Journal Sales)
• Subjects: Bacteriology; Biological and medical sciences; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Life Sciences; Microbiology; Systematics; Xenorhabdus; Characterization; Taxonomy; Bacteria; Colony; Isolate; Isolation; Biochemistry; Physiology; Mutation; Enterobacteriaceae; VARIANT
• ISSN: 0022-1287; 1350-0872; 1465-2080
• DOI: 10.1099/00221287-134-3-751

Division of Entomology, CSIRO, Stowell Avenue, Hobart, Tasmania 7000, Australia ABSTRACT SUMMARY: Primary and secondary form variants of Xenorhabdus isolated from 21 strains (13 species) of Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae were tested for 240 biochemical and physiological characters. Primary form variants, isolated from the infective stage nematodes, could always be distinguished from the secondary by adsorption of neutral red from MacConkey agar. Lecithinase, antibiotic activity and/or adsorption of bromothymol blue were useful for distinguishing the variants of most strains. The variants of all strains also differed for other characteristics but the distinguishing characteristics varied from strain to strain. The importance of including both variants of each strain and of using appropriate methods in the study of Xenorhabdus taxonomy was demonstrated. Present address: Laboratoire de Pathologie Comparée, Université des Sciences, Montpellier, France. Present address: CSIRO, Division of Entomology, GPO Box 1700, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia.