The effect of alteration of "variable" characteristics on speciation of coagulase-negative staphylococci / by Cecil Wayne Stephens.
| Author/creator | Stephens, Cecil Wayne author. |
| Other author | Allen, Wendall E., degree supervisor. |
| Other author | East Carolina University. Department of Biology. |
| Format | Theses and dissertations |
| Production | 1979. |
| Description | viii, 66 leaves : illustrations ; 28 cm |
| Supplemental Content | Access via ScholarShip |
| Subjects |
| Subject | The purpose of this investigation was to determine if the heterogeneity observed among the coagulase-negative staphylococci could be related to the existence of either prophage or plasmid-associated determinants. The loss or acquisition of plasmid or prophage-associated determinants for taxonomically important traits could account for the array of properties reported by different investigators as variable for some species of Staphylococcus. Using techniques previously reported to "cure" staphylococci of plasmids (treatment of cultures with sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS, or ethidum bromide, K3), three lac isolates were obtained from 2 species of staphylococci (Staphylococcus xylosus, Staphylococcus homlnis) reported by Kloos and Schleifer (1975c) as 20-30% variable for lactose utilization. Other taxonomically important traits associated with this change were galactose, maltose, melezitose and turanose utilization. These, carbohydrate variant strains were used as recipients in experiments to reinstate the lactose determinant via transduction or lysogeny. The source of transducing or converting phase was filtered UV-irradiation or Mitomycin C-induction products from lac parental strains. Lac⁺ strains obtained following exposure of lac⁺ variants to the induction products were tested for changes in the other taxonomically related characteristic. All cultures were tested according to the classification scheme of Kloos and Schleifer (1975c) (Appendix B: Classification of Staphylococci) for human cutaneous staphylococci. Cured strains were observed to become more similar to different species of coagulase-negative staphylococci. In most cases these species had been reported by Kloos and Schleifer as closely related, misclassifiable, or possessing the same habitat on the human body. |
| Local note | Joyner-"Presented to the faculty of the Department of Biology ... in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Arts in Biology." |
| General note | Presented to the faculty of the Department of Biology. |
| General note | Advisor: Wendall E. Allen |
| Dissertation note | M.A. East Carolina University 1979 |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references (leaves 60-66). |
| Genre/form | dissertations. |
| Genre/form | Academic theses. |
| Genre/form | Academic theses. |
| Genre/form | Thèses et écrits académiques. |
Availability
| Library | Location | Call Number | Status | Item Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joyner | University Archives | ASK AT SPECIAL COLLECTIONS DESK | ✔ Available | Request Material |
| Electronic Resources | Access Content Online | ✔ Available |