Abstract
Iron in the Fe(III) oxidation state had a negligible effect on the growth ofKlebsiella pneumoniae even at the highest concentration (0.45mm) obtainable without precipitation in a minimal medium containing glucose and inorganic salts together with Tris as the buffer and glycerol 2-phosphate as the phosphorus source. Nevertheless in its presence the toxic action of Cd2+, Zn2+ and Cu2+ was antagonized while that of Co2+ and Ni2+ was potentiated. Higher iron levels were obtained by supplementing the minimal medium with fructose, glycine, gluconate, tartrate and citrate at a range of concentrations. With fructose and glycine all of the resulting solutions were red-brown and non-toxic. This was also found with the other complexing agents when the ligand:iron ratios were low, but at higher ligand:iron ratios the solutions were green and toxic. Iron-citrate systems were especially toxic but resistance developed and was of the graded type. The results are discussed with particular reference to earlier physico-chemical studies by other workers and it is concluded that the red-brown colour is characteristic of the presence of polymers of high molar mass and that the green colour signifies the formation of low molar mass species.
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Chapman, R., Dean, A.C.R. Action of iron and iron-complexes onKlebsiella pneumoniae (Klebsiella aerogenes). Folia Microbiol 27, 295–302 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02883128
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02883128