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. 1982 Feb;43(2):469–477. doi: 10.1128/aem.43.2.469-477.1982

The Microaerophile SPirillum volutans: Cultivation on Complex Liquid and Solid Media

Penelope J Padgett 1,†, William H Cover 1,‡, Noel R Krieg 1
PMCID: PMC241850  PMID: 16345953

Abstract

Spirillum volutans grows only under microaerobic conditions in a peptone-succinate-salts broth, but can grow aerobically when the peptone is replaced by vitamin-free acid-hydrolyzed casein broth. The addition of potassium metabisulfite, norepinephrine, catalase or superoxide dismutase (SOD) permitted aerobic growth in peptone-succinate-salts broth. A combination of catalase and SOD had a synergistic effect. S. volutans lacked catalase and had only a low level of peroxidase activity, but did possess SOD activity (12 to 14 U/mg of protein). The organism was found to be extraordinarily sensitive to exogenous hydrogen peroxide. Illumination of peptone-succinate-salts broth generated hydrogen peroxide and rendered the medium inhibitory to growth. A combination of catalase and SOD prevented this inhibition. Growth of S. volutans on solid media, not previously possible, was accomplished by the use of vitamin-free acid-hydrolyzed casein and peptone-succinate-salts agar media; maximum growth responses were dependent on the following combination of factors: addition of bisulfite, catalase, or SOD, protection of the media from illumination, incubation in a highly humid atmosphere, and incubation under atmospheres of 12% oxygen or less. The results indicate that the microaerophilic nature of S. volutans is attributable largely to the high sensitivity of the organism to exogenous hydrogen peroxide and, to a lesser extent, superoxide radicals occurring in the culture medium.

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Selected References

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