Skip to main content
Applied Microbiology logoLink to Applied Microbiology
. 1968 Apr;16(4):636–640. doi: 10.1128/am.16.4.636-640.1968

Rapid and Sensitive Detection of Bacteria by Gas Chromatography

B M Mitruka 1,1, M Alexander 1
PMCID: PMC547484  PMID: 4967452

Abstract

A gas chromatograph fitted with electron capture and flame ionization detectors was employed for the rapid detection of bacteria by analysis for their metabolic products. The presence of Proteus vulgaris, Streptococcus faecalis, S. liquefaciens, Escherichia coli B, Bacillus cereus, and B. popilliae was detected in 2 to 4 hr in media inoculated with less than 104 cells per ml, whereas a 7- to 12-hr growth period was required for the detection of products formed in cultures of Serratia marcescens, Aerobacter aerogenes, E. coli K-12, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella typhimurium. Metabolites elaborated by the equivalent of less than a single cell of B. cereus, S. faecalis, P. vulgaris, or E. coli B were sensed by the electron capture detector. The flame ionization detector was generally not as sensitive. Volatile metabolites were identified, and their concentrations were determined.

Full text

PDF
636

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. ABEL K., DESCHMERTZING H., PETERSON J. I. CLASSIFICATION OF MICROORGANISMS BY ANALYSIS OF CHEMICAL COMPOSITION. I. FEASIBILITY OF UTILIZING GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY. J Bacteriol. 1963 May;85:1039–1044. doi: 10.1128/jb.85.5.1039-1044.1963. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Bawdon R. E., Bassette R. Differentiation of Escherichia coli and Aerobacter aerogenes by gas liquid chromatography. J Dairy Sci. 1966 Jun;49(6):624–627. doi: 10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(66)87920-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Henis Y., Gould J. R., Alexander M. Detection and identification of bacteria by gas chromatography. Appl Microbiol. 1966 Jul;14(4):513–524. doi: 10.1128/am.14.4.513-524.1966. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Mitruka B. M., Alexander M. Ultrasensitive detection of certain microbial metabolites by gas chromatography. Anal Biochem. 1967 Sep;20(3):548–550. doi: 10.1016/0003-2697(67)90300-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Moss C. W., Lewis V. J. Characterization of clostridia by gas chromatography. I. Differentiation of species by cellular fatty acids. Appl Microbiol. 1967 Mar;15(2):390–397. doi: 10.1128/am.15.2.390-397.1967. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. PROOM H., KNIGHT B. C. The minimal nutritional requirements of some species in the genus Bacillus. J Gen Microbiol. 1955 Dec;13(3):474–480. doi: 10.1099/00221287-13-3-474. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Applied Microbiology are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES