Bacillus coli communis: Some of its varieties and allies; their relation to the typhoid bacillus

1897 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 438-451 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. H. Gordon
Keyword(s):  
Typhoid Bacillus ◽  
Bacillus Coli

The Ætiology of the Confusional Syndrome and the Use of T.A.B. Vaccine

1938 ◽  
Vol 84 (350-351) ◽  
pp. 563-573 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. N. Parfitt
Keyword(s):  
Typhoid Fever ◽  
Specific Protein ◽  
Foreign Protein ◽  
Typhoid Vaccine ◽  
Protein Therapy ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
Typhoid Bacillus ◽  
Other Substances ◽  
Bacillus Coli ◽  
Gram Negative Organisms

Since the discovery that Bacillus coli vaccine (1) or albumose (2) were as effective as typhoid vaccine (3) in the treatment of typhoid fever, the use of non-specific protein therapy has been popular for almost any disease for which there is no other satisfactory form of treatment. T.A.B. vaccine, a mixture of typhoid and paratyphoid A and B organisms, has been found more regular and reliable in its results than typhoid vaccine (4); but milk, antitoxic sera, peptone and a variety of other substances have been used, and even malaria is considered a form of this treatment, segmentation of the parasites producing the foreign protein (5). It has been observed that Gram-negative organisms, such as the gonococcus and typhoid bacillus, produce more marked reactions when given intravenously than the Gram-positive organisms, such as staphylococci, streptococci and pneumococci (5).

scholarly journals THE INFLUENCE OF ENVIRONMENT UPON THE BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES OF THE VARIOUS MEMBERS OF THE COLON GROUP OF BACILLI

1897 ◽  
Vol 2 (5) ◽  
pp. 549-591 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adelaide Ward Peckham
Keyword(s):  
The Other ◽  
Biological Processes ◽  
Functional Equilibrium ◽  
Typhoid Bacillus ◽  
Artificial Environment ◽  
Serum Test ◽  
Bacillus Coli ◽  
Biological Relationship ◽  
Increased Activity ◽  
Methods Of Treatment

Assuming the typical colon bacillus and the typical typhoid bacillus to represent the types of this group that present the greatest divergences in biological peculiarities, we conclude, as others also have done, that there is a series of closely related forms that may be regarded as intermediate or transitional and which serve to establish a biological relationship, either near or remote, between these two typical members. From our own studies we are inclined to regard the typical colon bacillus as the type of this group, for the reason that its functional equilibrium, as observed in the intestine, is so permanent a quality that it may readily be perpetuated under what is ordinarily regarded as favorable artificial circumstances, and that with the continuance of such conditions there is no conspicuous tendency on the part of this organism to deviate from what we regard as its norm; whereas, on the other hand, with all the other members of this group with which we have worked, there is not only a lack of uniformity in the adjustment of the functions, but such as exists is readily disturbed under artificial environment; though it must be borne in mind that even with the typical colon bacillus we have also shown functional modifications to be possible under particular conditions. When the members of the colon group are cultivated under circumstances favorable to the development of both the function of fermentation and that of proteolysis, fermentation invariably takes precedence and no evidence of proteolysis is manifested until after fermentation has ceased. The cultivation of all the members of the colon group under circumstances that favor the development of one function, viz. that of proteolysis, at the expense of another, viz. that of fermentation, results first in an apparent increase of vigor; but this is of temporary duration and is quickly followed by the decline and death of the cell. The result of this increased activity of the proteolytic function is the formation of much larger amounts of indol by typical colon cultures than has ever been obtained by us by any other method. By the method of experimentation through which we were enabled to accentuate the proteolytic activity of the typical colon bacillus, as caused by an increase of indol formation, we have also induced the function of indol formation not only in atypical colon bacilli that had been devoid of it, but in every specimen of typical typhoid bacilli to which we had access as well. We feel justified in regarding one of the differential tests between the typhoid and colon bacillus, namely that of indol formation on the part of the latter and the absence of this function from the former, as of questionable value, for the reason, as shown above, that by particular methods of cultivation indol production has been shown to accompany the development of a number of specimens that we have every reason to regard as genuine typhoid bacilli. As a result of our own experiments, together with the observations of others, there can be no doubt that the bacillus coli communis at times possesses pathogenic properties, and that by artificial methods of treatment it may often be brought from a condition of benignity to one of virulence. The spleen of a typhoid patient has always been regarded as the only trustworthy source from which to obtain the typical typhoid bacillus. While we believe this to be true, still our investigations show that other members of the colon group may also be present in this viscus; in fact, from such spleens we have isolated practically all of the varieties of this group with which we are acquainted. From our experience, the value of the serum test for the differentiation of typhoid and colon bacilli would seem to be questionable. We are inclined, however, to attribute the irregularities recorded above as due more to the method of application than to defects of the principles involved; for, as stated, by the use of dried blood, as in our experiments, it is not possible to make the test with constant and accurate, or even approximately accurate, dilutions of the serum. Our irregularities may be in part due to this defect. We therefore lay less stress upon this than upon the other features of our work.

A Case of Empyema Due to Bacillus coli

1913 ◽  
Vol 168 (21) ◽  
pp. 768-768
Author(s):  
ARTHUR L. GROVER
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Coli

scholarly journals A note upon the maintenance of cultures of Bacterium typhosum for testing by the Rideal-Walker method

1939 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 268-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. E. Coulthard
Keyword(s):  
Room Temperature ◽  
Standard Technique ◽  
Tryptic Digestion ◽  
Usual Practice ◽  
British Standard ◽  
Typhoid Bacillus ◽  
Fresh Culture

The British Standard Technique for Determining the Rideal-Walker Coefficient of Disinfectants (no. 541—1934), in laying down the procedure to be adopted with regard to the test typhoid bacillus culture, recommends that a fresh culture be obtained each month from the National Collection of Type Cultures. In all probability this is the best procedure; it does, however, sometimes happen that a test is required urgently when a fresh culture is not available. The following notes upon our own experience in maintaining cultures may therefore be of some interest. It is our practice to obtain fresh cultures whenever we are called upon to carry out other than routine tests unless a recent one has been obtained, and many of these cultures have now been running for a number of years. On the arrival of the culture from the N.C.T.C. it is subcultured on to an agar slope and “incubated” at room temperature in a dark cupboard. 2% agar is used in a broth prepared by the tryptic digestion of ox heart. Further subcultures are made at intervals of one month. It is our usual practice to start a series of broth cultures from such slopes not less than 14 days after sowing.

scholarly journals The enzymes concerned in the decomposition of glucose and mannitol by Bacillus coli communis . Part II.—Experiments of short duration with an emulsion of the organisms

1918 ◽  
Vol 90 (625) ◽  
pp. 75-92 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Short Duration ◽  
Enzyme Action ◽  
Bacillus Coli ◽  
Unknown Composition

The earlier experiments described by the writer upon the decomposition of glucose and mannitol by B. coli communis were open to the objection from the biological side that no attempt was made to distinguish those products which arose by enzyme action from those which might be more particularly associated in their formation with the growth and multiplication of the cells, and from the chemical side that certain substances of unknown composition, such as peptone, were employed, so that it was not possible to be sure that some of the products of fermentation had not been derived from this source. To overcome these objections the author has adopted a new plan of work which aims at separating the process of growth from that of fermentation.

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